HYACINTHE RIGAUD
1659-1743
74 Portrait of a Man
Black chalk, gray wash, and white gouache heightening
on blue paper; H: 35.4 cm (1 4 in.); W: 28 cm (n in.)
86.GB.ÓI 2
MARKS AND INSCRIPTIONS! None.
PROVENANCE: Sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, May 10, 1971,
lot 26; private collection, Paris; art market, Paris.
EXHIBITIONS: None.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: None.
ALTHOUGH TENTATIVELY IDENTIFIED AT ONE TIME AS
a portrait of the marquis de Louvois (Hôtel Drouot 1971,
as "Portrait présumé de Louvois"), there appears to be no
basis for this hypothesis, and the sitter remains elusive.
The drawing itself falls into the category of finished
sheets made by Rigaud after his own painted composi-
tions, some of which were intended as the basis for
prints. Unfortunately, no painting or print of this com-
position has survived. Stylistically, the drawing is com-
parable to a portrait, Martin van den Bogaert (Desjardins)
(Stàdelsches Kunstinstitut inv. 1068). It shares with the
latter and with other finished portrait drawings by Ri-
gaud an exquisite rendering of white highlights.178 FRENCH SCHOOL • RIGAUD