Nicolas de Largillierre

Possibly Count Léon Mniszech;
His sale, Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, April 9-11, 1902, lot 58, for 30,000 francs to Fischhof;
With Eugène Fischhof, Paris, 1910;
From whom purchased by Mary Frick Jacobs, Baltimore;
By whom bequeathed to the Baltimore Museum of Art in 1938 (1938.175).

H.B. Jacobs, The Collection of Mary Frick Jacobs, Baltimore 1938, reproduced plate 4.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting has not been restored for a number of years and is noticeably dirty. The canvas has been lined and for the most part this lining is successful, although some slight instability has developed above the head of the Marquise. The paint layer is very dirty yet the paint layer throughout the picture is clearly quite healthy. When the picture is cleaned however, old restorations will undoubtably be revealed. Some of these retouches have darkened and are evident in the satin dress in the lower portion of the picture. There is a pentiment of the figure against the blue sky which has been retouched in places and there is the odd dark smudge of restoration visible elsewhere. However, from a visible appraisal, the quality of the paint in the face, the right hand and throughout the elaborate drapery seems to affirm our opinion that the condition is very good.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The sitter was born Jeanne-Henriette de Fourcy; in 1714, she married Jacques II de Chartenet, Marquis de Puységur (1659-1742), who was Lieutenant-Général des armées du Roi in 1704 and Maréchal de France in 1734.