Pierre Gobert
Fontainebleau 1662 - 1744 Paris, Circle of
"Portrait of a Nobleman"
France
Around 1700/early 18. century
Oil on canvas, relined
73,5 x 60 cm, with frame 89 x 75 cm

The French court painter Pierre Gobert was best known for his portrait paintings, which are related to the portrait of a nobleman shown here. After submitting portraits to the Royal Academy of Arts, Gobert was admitted in 1701. He went on to work as a portraitist for numerous noble families.

This painting was probably created during his employment as a portrait painter. The sitter is shown with flowing curls framing a well-fed face with a prominent nose, jutting chin, red-painted lips, and almond-shaped eyes under thick eyebrows. Particularly striking are the filigree fabric patterns of the lace-embellished and golden undergarment, suggesting a precious fabric. Over this, the sitter wears a dark blue, shimmering cloak, which only stands out from the dark background of the picture when examined closely. This emphasises the luminosity of the flesh parts with the flushed cheeks and the delicate white highlights of the hair.

It is possible that the man shown here is a Prince of Conti of the House of Bourbon-Conde, a secondary branch of the French royal house of Bourbon. Comparable depictions exist of Louis Armand de Bourbon (1661-1685) or François Louis de Bourbon (1664-1709), whereby this painter uses the representational conventions of the time in his execution.