18th Century Portrait of a French School Aristocratic Gentleman

A fine half length portrait of a powder wigged 18th century French aristocratic gentleman simply dressed in a brown waistcoat over an embroidered buttoned vest in which he has placed his right hand. The hand-in-waistcoat is a gesture commonly found in portraiture during the 18th and 19th centuries. The pose appeared by the 1750s to indicate leadership in a calm and firm manner. The pose is most often associated with Napoleon due to its use in several portraits made by his artist, Jacques-Louis David, amongst them the 1812 painting Napoleon in His Study. The pose, thought of as being stately, was copied by other portrait painters across Europe and America. Most paintings and photographs show the right hand inserted into the waistcoat/jacket, as this work. The paining is unsigned and is presented in an original period giltwood frame.

Dimensions: 36.5″ H x 27.5″ W