Executed by Bernard Vaillant, the half-brother and pupil of Wallerant Vaillant, whom the young artist, amongst other exploits, accompanied to Frankfurt in 1658 for the coronation of Leopold I. This pastel, a medium that Bernard seems to have used more systematically than his brother, is a characteristic example of his work whereby, as observed by Neil Jeffares, "he abandoned the stiff and severe style of Wallerant, and extended his palette to include pinks, ochres and browns".
1
For a characteristic drawing by Wallerant Vaillant, see sale, New York, Sotheby's, 31 January 2018, lot 242.
1. N. Jeffares, Dictionary of pastellists before 1800, London 2006, p. 524