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André François Alloys de Theys d'Herculais (1692–1779)
Summary
André François Alloys de Theys d'Herculais (1692–1779)
Nicolas de Largillierre (French, Paris 1656–1746 Paris)
Date:
1727
Medium:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
54 1/4 x 41 1/2 in. (137.8 x 105.4 cm)
Classification:
Paintings
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1973
Accession Number:
1973.311.4
This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 526
The sitter, from a bourgeois family in Grenoble, was a captain in the Clermont-Condé cavalry regiment; one of his campaigns in the north of Spain may be represented in the background. His formal military attire is earlier in date than the portrait. Largilliere may have owned the armor, since the breastplate appears in three other portraits by the artist of roughly the same date. This one exemplifies Largilliere's late, restrained style.
Largilliere's portraits were much sought after by the aristocracy and bourgeoisie, and he painted many members of the French court, including the king and his family. His style was characterised by a sense of grandeur and elegance, and he often depicted his sitters in richly detailed costumes and luxurious surroundings. In addition to his portraits, Largilliere also painted religious and mythological scenes, as well as landscapes and still lifes. He was an accomplished draughtsman and his drawings are highly regarded for their precision and delicacy. Largilliere's career spanned more than six decades and he continued to paint until his death at the age of 90. Today, his works can be found in museums and private collections around the world, including the Louvre in Paris, the National Gallery in London and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
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