Lot 246
  • 246

NICOLAS DE LARGILLIERRE | Portrait of a gentleman, said to be the Chamberlain de Montargu, half-length, wearing a breastplate over a red velvet jacket with gold embroidered sleeves

Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Portrait of a gentleman, said to be the Chamberlain de Montargu, half-length, wearing a breastplate over a red velvet jacket with gold embroidered sleeves
  • oil on canvas
  • 32 3/8  by 25 3/8  in.; 82.3 by 64.5 cm.

Provenance

Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 2 November 2000, lot 194;
There acquired. 

Condition

The canvas has an old relining and is flat and stable. The work has a somewhat heavy varnish which appears milky and uneven under ultraviolet, but to the naked eye the painting reads clearly and evenly. The details are very well-preserved and the brushwork in the lace and hair are particularly nice. The colors remain vibrant and details in the face are vivid and untouched. There is an area of restoration in the background just to the left of the sitter's head, about 3 inches high and 2 inches across, and a couple minor retouches in the dark area of the breastplate which flouresce under UV light. Overall, the painting presents very well and can be hung as is. Offered in a carved giltwood frame.
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.

Catalogue Note

Another version of this impressive portrait is in the Gemäldegalerie, Dresden (inv. no. 758). As the Dresden version dates to circa 1710, and it is likely that the present painting dates to the same period.  The sitter was first identified as the Chamberlain of Montargu by Karl Woerman in 1887; though this has not been fully confirmed, the Dresden version has since catalogued the sitter as such with certainty.