French school of the 18th century and later.

French school of the 18th century and later.
"Portrait of a gentleman".
Oil on canvas glued to tablex.
Presents faults and Repainting.
It has a frame of the nineteenth century.
Measurements: 54 x 45 cm; 78 x 67 cm (frame).
This work of the French school of the XVIII century represents a "Portrait of a gentleman" in oval format, characteristic of the courtly and bourgeois portraits of that time. It is a short bust portrait, in which some elements of the clothing are barely hinted at: the starched white collar, a blue scarf and part of the lapels of the coat, resolved with restrained brushstrokes that suggest rather than describe. The figure appears slightly turned in three quarters, although the face faces the viewer, establishing a direct relationship that emphasizes his individuality and presence.
The voluminous powdered wig stands out, a hallmark of 18th century aristocratic taste, symbolizing rank, sophistication and conformity to the social codes of the elite. The gesture of the sitter, who is smiling slightly, contributes to humanize the image without losing the restraint of the genre. The neutral background, devoid of narrative or symbolic elements, directs all attention to the face and reinforces the timeless character of the portrait.
During the 18th century, portraiture occupied a central place in artistic production, especially in France, where it became a powerful tool for social affirmation and identity representation. Both the nobility and the emerging bourgeoisie resorted to portraiture to project values such as rationality, decorum, enlightenment or refinement, in line with the ideals of the time. This genre made it possible to capture not only the physical features, but also the dignity and condition of the subject, within a codified visual language that balanced naturalistic likeness with idealized representation.