Donatien Nonnotte (attributed to): portrait of a gentleman from the Louis XV period, oil on canvas

18th-century French School, large ceremonial portrait of a gentleman, an aristocrat in a wig and gray silk velvet winter coat. He is dressed in the fashion of the 1750s, during the reign of Louis XV. In one hand, he holds bills of exchange (acknowledgments of debt: "to Paris, for the next payment of this first bill of exchange from... to Lyon," and the mention "Lyon" on the other pages below. The portrait, oil on canvas, is from the Louis XV period and dates from the mid-18th century. It is presented in a beautiful 15th-century Rococo style frame made of wood and stucco gilded with gold leaf.

A beautiful portrait with elegant features, very well executed: particular attention is paid to the complexion, the highlights of the beard, and the hands. The work is unsigned, but of very fine craftsmanship, superb and spectacular.

The style and quality are reminiscent of the work of Donatien Nonnotte, the great portraitist of the Lyonnaise aristocracy, to whom it is attributed.

Donatien or Donat Nonnotte, born February 10, 1708, in Besançon and died February 5, 1785, in Lyon, was a French painter, specializing in Portraits. From 1728, he was a student of Lemoyne, who, recognizing his talent, entrusted him with the creation of significant portions of royal commissions. The portraits he exhibited under his own name at the Salon opened the doors to the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1741 as a portrait painter. Appointed painter to the city of Lyon in 1754, he settled in that city, where he remained until his death. He founded a free drawing school, which became the model for all others of this genre, and where he taught several portrait painters, including Jean-François Gille and François-Hubert Drouais.
Nonnotte's portraits are exhibited in the greatest collections and museums.

Excellent condition, painting and frames cleaned.

Frame: 101cm x 86.5cm
Canvas: 83cm x 68cm

Ref: GCSV2YYIR4