DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68073#0336
3io
OLD WORLD MASTERS
Houses of Hupin, Neuvill, etc., and Lieutenant-General of the King’s
armies.
Madame de Besons is wearing a pale pink silk dress with a deep
flounce with sleeves of the favorite Mechlin lace and a large cape
with collar. Her hair is waved in fine shells and adorned with the
little spray of flowers that Madame de Pompadour had made the
fashion at this moment. A necklace consisting of three rows of per-
fectly matched pearls proclaim Madame de Besons a lady of wealth.
The chair in which Madame de Besons is sitting is a handsome example
of Louis XV furniture, gold frame upholstered in light green brocade.
The background is dark grey. The painting (37 x 29% inches) is an
unusual and a most artistic work of Greuze.
LA MARQUISE DE VILLEMONBLE.
Franqois Hubert Drouais Collection of
(1727-1775). Mr. Jules S. Bache.
One is often asked to define the style Louis XV. Could there pos-
sibly be a better definition than is expressed in this exquisite portrait
of an exquisite lady,—La Marquise de Villemonble? Is not the very
essence, the spirit, the perfume of the Eighteenth Century seen in the
face, the dress, the pose, the manner, the charm, and the “grand
style” of the Marquise?
It is very evident that Drouais took deep delight in painting this
aristocratic lady and her beautiful costume as well. We can see with
what pleasure the painter’s brush swept into being the lustre and the
folds of the pale lemon satin dress; traced the delicate pattern of the
Mechlin lace that forms the ruffles of the bell-sleeves and the garniture
of the neck; tied the bows of rich pink satin adorning the corsage and
holding the lace at the sleeves; touched up the cluster of shaded grey
feathers and rounded the pearls in the coiffure; placed the little string
of black velvet around the neck; and lingered upon the sheet of music
which the Marquise is holding so gracefully. The words below the
notes show that the lady is a singer. Yet all these carefully painted
OLD WORLD MASTERS
Houses of Hupin, Neuvill, etc., and Lieutenant-General of the King’s
armies.
Madame de Besons is wearing a pale pink silk dress with a deep
flounce with sleeves of the favorite Mechlin lace and a large cape
with collar. Her hair is waved in fine shells and adorned with the
little spray of flowers that Madame de Pompadour had made the
fashion at this moment. A necklace consisting of three rows of per-
fectly matched pearls proclaim Madame de Besons a lady of wealth.
The chair in which Madame de Besons is sitting is a handsome example
of Louis XV furniture, gold frame upholstered in light green brocade.
The background is dark grey. The painting (37 x 29% inches) is an
unusual and a most artistic work of Greuze.
LA MARQUISE DE VILLEMONBLE.
Franqois Hubert Drouais Collection of
(1727-1775). Mr. Jules S. Bache.
One is often asked to define the style Louis XV. Could there pos-
sibly be a better definition than is expressed in this exquisite portrait
of an exquisite lady,—La Marquise de Villemonble? Is not the very
essence, the spirit, the perfume of the Eighteenth Century seen in the
face, the dress, the pose, the manner, the charm, and the “grand
style” of the Marquise?
It is very evident that Drouais took deep delight in painting this
aristocratic lady and her beautiful costume as well. We can see with
what pleasure the painter’s brush swept into being the lustre and the
folds of the pale lemon satin dress; traced the delicate pattern of the
Mechlin lace that forms the ruffles of the bell-sleeves and the garniture
of the neck; tied the bows of rich pink satin adorning the corsage and
holding the lace at the sleeves; touched up the cluster of shaded grey
feathers and rounded the pearls in the coiffure; placed the little string
of black velvet around the neck; and lingered upon the sheet of music
which the Marquise is holding so gracefully. The words below the
notes show that the lady is a singer. Yet all these carefully painted