Follower of Mathiu Le Nain; 18th century.

Follower of MATHIU LE NAIN (Laon, France, 1607-1677). 18th century.
"Portrait of a young prince".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Measurements: 56 x 45,5 cm.
This Portrait of a young prince attributed to a follower of Mathieu Le Nain (Laon, 1607-1677), is a representative work of the aesthetic and symbolic ideals of the aristocratic portrait in the 18th century, made with clear inspiration in the French painting of the late Baroque. Although the Le Nain brothers are best known for their genre scenes with peasants and humble figures, this piece, attributed to a follower, shows an appropriation of their sober and realistic technique applied here to courtly portraiture.
The central figure is that of a young prince, who emerges with serenity and dignity against a dark, austere background that accentuates the luminosity of his face and the richness of his attire. The child, with a serene but firm expression, poses with a stillness that recalls the solemnity of childish nobility. His long, wavy, reddish hair falls naturally over his shoulders, evoking a palatial fashion typical of the French or even English court of the period.
The costume is particularly noteworthy: a white shirt adorned with pink ribbons arranged in vertical rows and a wide, elaborately crafted lace collar, the points of which rest elegantly on her shoulders. This detail not only indicates the high social position of the sitter, but also reflects the textile refinement of the 18th century and the taste for Flemish and French lace.
The work, delicately executed with a restrained palette, conveys a sense of youthful dignity without resorting to idealized exaggerations. The child's gaze, direct but reserved, connects the viewer with the interiority of a character who, despite his age, already represents a figure of potential power. The composition, centered and frontal, maintains a formal distance that was typical of the portraits of the nobility.
A documented copy of this painting is preserved in the Museum of Fine Arts in Nantes, which suggests the iconographic and symbolic relevance of the portrait in European collecting circles.