Portrait of the Marquise de Pleumartin by JM Nattier, Paris 1742

Portrait of the Marquise de Pleumartin by Jean-Marc Nattier, Paris 1742

Beautiful portrait of the Marquise de Pleumartin, née Anne le Laÿ de Villemaré (1695-1761).

She is represented from the front in a very simple pose and without frills. She wears a natural hairstyle and looks languorously at the spectator. Her face has slightly blushed cheeks whose delicate pink hues enhance her beautiful pearly carnations.

She wears a cape in blue satin with turquoise reflections, positioned on her shoulder and crossing her torso. It is stapled to her muslin chemise by a ribbon and on the shoulder by a pin embellished with a ceremonial stone. The preciousness of the satin cape contrasts with the simplicity of the chemise, whose transparency and cut-out lets you see the upper part of the chest and shoulders, which exudes a lot of sensuality.

Sumptuous original frame in carved oak wood, openwork and leaf gilded.

Very nice state of conservation, infirm restorations of use, enhanced signature and small gilding retouches on the frame.

Oil on canvas signed «Nattier» and «dated 1742» in the middle right for Jean Marc Nattier.

Dimensions:

Canvas: Height 82 cm; Width 65 cm

Origin:

-Collection Moïse Nissim Constantini (1806-1886)

-The after-death sale by Me Trouillet in his private mansion at 66 rue des Mathurins in Paris, on Saturday 14 August 1886. (12,000 francs)

-Collection Gabriel de Gombault de Razac (1824-1888) and by descent.

-Galerie Louis Paraf in Paris in 1928.

-Private collection Italy.

Close work:

Portrait of the Marquise de Pleumartin, signed Nattier and dated 1738, sale Christies New York, 14 April 2016 , lot 148 ($845,000)

Bibliography:

Philippe Renard  «Nattier a Parisian artisan at the court» at Monelle Hayot.