Important Portrait Of A Young Artist - French School Of The 18th Century Circa 1770-1780

Important chiaroscuro portrait of a young painter of the Enlightenment, oil on canvas from the second half of the 18th century in France. Beautiful intimate portrait of a young painter with a gaze penetrating the soft darkness of his studio, he is dressed in a simple brown frock coat with a high collar revealing a very becoming fine green waistcoat that contrasts with his white shirt tied with a lace tie. This striking contrast is magnified by a cold light, giving him a gentle sensation of purity and freshness. However, his haughty, theatrical bearing combined with this dark gaze gives the impression that he already fascinates an audience that is nevertheless most unreal. From the front, halfway down his leg treated in chiaroscuro, he is there, in the foreground, positioned in front of his easel, brush in one hand and sketch in the other. He seems to emerge into the light, light that gives him a clear perspective, thereby accentuating the illusion of volume. Dimensions: Frame width 101cm, height 123.5cm. Stretcher 83cm wide and 105cm high. Restorations of use and maintenance such as relining on stretcher with keys and cleaning. It should be noted that the frame is of recent manufacture.