Nicolas de Largillierre

Probably Yves-Joseph-Charles Pommyer;
Probably Jacque-Jean-Baptiste-Simon Pommyer, and thence by descent to;
Marquise de Pommyer de Rougement, widow of the Marquis de Pommyer (said to have died circa 1880 in Paris);
Baron Alfred de Rosée by 1928;
Thence by descent until sold ("The Property of a Continental Family of Title"), London, Christie's, 10 December 1993, lot 46 (as inscribed on the relining canvas Peint par N. de Largillière en 1722);
Where purchased by the father of the present owner.

Paris, Palais des Beaux Arts de la Ville de Paris [Petit Palais], N. de Largilliere, 1928, p. 142, no. 128 (as a Memeber of the Ormesson Family). 

M.N. Rosenfeld, Largillièrre and the Eighteenth-Century Portrait, exhibition catalogue, Montreal 1982, p. 260, under cat. no. 52, reproduced fig. 52b.

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 is in lovely state and should be hung as is. The canvas has an old glue lining which is still nicely stabilizing the surface, although stretcher marks are slightly visible around the upper edges. The paint layer is cleaned and lightly varnished. A few small cracks have been retouched, but no other restorations are visible under the ultraviolet light.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

In the first quarter of the 18th century, Largillièrre completed a series of portraits of the aristocratic Pommyer family, representing Yves-Joseph, the head of the family, his wife and seven children.  The series, sold Christie's, London, 10 December 1993 (see Provenance) had remained as a group, together with three other pastels of the family. 

The present portrait depicts François-Emmanuel who became Abbé of Bonneval, Conseiler de la Grande Chambre de Parlement, honorary Deacon of the Metropolitan church of Reims, Canon of Saint-Martin of Tours, Président de la Chambre Souveraine du Clergé.  In addition to this, he was also an honorary, and very active, member of the Académie royale de Peinture et de Sculpture.  Pommyer was well known in artistic circles and befriended artists such as Maurice Quentin de la Tour, Jean-Siméon Chardin and Charles-Nicholas Cochin.  He was even present at the appointment of François Boucher to the position of Premier Peintre du Roi on 30 July 1768.

A double portrait of François-Emmanuel and his twin brother Yves-Joseph from the above listed series, also by Largillièrre, was sold in these rooms on 23 May 2001, lot 31.