Hyacinthe Rigaud, 'Antoine Pâris', probably 1724
About the work
Overview
Antoine Paris (1668–1733) was the son of a village innkeeper. With his brother Claude he helped provision French troops, eventually controlling all land and water transport supplying soldiers from Burgundy and the Auvergne. Antoine was appointed Royal Treasurer to Louis XIV in 1722, and this portrait was probably painted in 1724, two years before he fell from favour and was banished.
Rigaud was the most prestigious portraitist in France, known for his elegant and realistic portrayals of aristocrats, financiers and members of Louis XIV’s court. He shows Antoine seated in a library beside an elaborate table, clutching blue velvet drapery and turning as though to greet an unseen visitor. The gesture of Antoine’s right hand is one thought to be most appropriate for eloquent public speech. The fine characterisation of the head, a hallmark of Rigaud and his contemporary Largilliere, seems almost eclipsed by the grandeur of the setting and the dramatic, showy manner in which the draperies are painted.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- Antoine Pâris
- Artist
- Hyacinthe Rigaud
- Artist dates
- 1659 - 1743
- Date made
- probably 1724
- Medium and support
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 144.7 × 110.5 cm
- Inscription summary
- Signed
- Acquisition credit
- Bought, 1975
- Inventory number
- NG6428
- Location
- Not on display
- Collection
- Main Collection
- Frame
- 18th-century French Frame (original frame)
About this record
If you know more about this painting or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
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