The world of Maurice-Quentin de La TourVelvety pastel, intelligent looks and mobile expressions make Maurice-Quentin de La Tour the great psychological portraitist of the Age of Enlightenment.
1704 - 1788Life and career
Saint-Quentin, London, Paris, Royal Academy and court of Louis XVMain homes
Portrait of the Enlightenment, pastel, preparation, blue paper, self-portrait, courtyard, psychology, drawing and gouache highlightsPractical
°1,500Pastels, portraits, preparations, drawings, studies, variants, court commissions and lost works created, overall estimate
Hand paintedReal oil painting, no print.
Formats of your choiceA composition adapted to the dimensions ordered.
Photo validationExamine your board before shipping.
Possible alterationsRequest adjustments before sending.
1704 -1788 · Saint-Quentin, Paris and portrait of the Enlightenment
Velvety pastel, intelligent looks and mobile expressions make Maurice-Quentin de La Tour the great psychological portraitist of the Age of Enlightenment.
Maurice-Quentin de La Tour was born in Saint-Quentin in 1704 and died there in 1788. After a stay in London, he settled in Paris in 1724 and specialized in pastel, a medium then highly sought after. Approved by the Royal Academy in 1737, received as an academician in 1746, he exhibited regularly at the Salon between 1740 and 1760 and became painter to the king. His clientele brought together Louis XV, the royal family, Madame de Pompadour, artists, philosophers, diplomats and great financiers. The Tower does not only seek social resemblance. He multiplies the "preparations", rapid studies of the head on blue paper, in order to observe several angles, movements and expressions before the final portrait. This method allows him to suggest the intelligence, irony or reserve of the model behind the skin and the costume. The self-portrait in the blue outfit combines a lively look, a smile and elegance without stiffness. The portraits of Charles-Louis-Auguste Fouquet, Gabriel Bernard de Rieux and the diplomat Jean Monnet show how fabrics, wigs, badges and accessories situate the rank, while the face retains an immediate presence. With superimposed or rubbed pastel sticks, La Tour differentiates powder, velvet, satin, complexion and radiance of the eye. His large portraits, including that of the Marquise de Pompadour, give pastel an ambition comparable to history painting. The selection " Maurice-Quentin de La Tour" notably compares Self-portrait with a blue habit and Charles-Louis-Auguste Fouquet, Duke of Belle-Isle. His reading favors figures.
Maurice-Quentin de La Tour does not freeze a row: he seeks, under powder and satin, the movement of a thought which has just appeared.
Course & style
Journey, subjects and pictorial language
Paris, pastel and first successes
Colorful technique becomes the preferred means of a lively and modern resemblance. This milestone sheds light on the "Maurice-Quentin de La Tour" collection by favoring figures.
Academy, Salons and court portraits
Roi, Pompadour, philosophers and financiers pose for an artist at the height of his fame.
Withdrawal, Saint-Quentin and philanthropy
The artist slows down his activity, supports teaching and leaves a vast set of preparations.
01
Gaze in motion
Eyelid, pupil and eyebrow suggest active thinking rather than still pose. This line guides a reading of "Maurice-Quentin de La Tour" centered on the figures.
02
Velvety pastel
Superimposed powder and friction distinguish skin, wig, satin and velvet.
03
Express preparation
The lead studies test angles and expressions before final composition.
04
Rank without stiffness
Badges and costume situate the model while smile and gesture preserve her personality.
Explore by universe
Six readings specific to Maurice-Quentin de La Tour
Works, visual language and historical landmarks make up a route exclusively devoted to Maurice-Quentin de La Tour.
Spirit and smile01
Self-portrait in blue coat
The direct gaze, the smile and the luminous blue construct a vivid image of the painter as a man of wit.
Landmark work by Maurice-Quentin de La Tour. Reading of "Maurice-Quentin de La Tour" by the figures.Marshal and distinction02
Charles-Louis-Auguste Fouquet, Duke of Belle-Isle
Costume, badges and measured expression combine military authority and psychological finesse.
Landmark work by Maurice-Quentin de La TourElite of Enlightenment03
Portrait of Gabriel Bernard de Rieux
The richness of the materials accompanies an attentive face whose pastel preserves all mobility.
Landmark work by Maurice-Quentin de La TourDiplomacy and character04
Portrait of Jean Monnet, French diplomat
The individualized face and precise attire balance public service and personal presence.
Landmark work by Maurice-Quentin de La TourStyle05
Gaze in motion
Eyelid, pupil and eyebrow suggest active thinking rather than still pose. This line guides a reading of "Maurice-Quentin de La Tour" centered on the figures.
Reading key for Maurice-Quentin de La TourStyle06
Velvety pastel
Superimposed powder and friction distinguish skin, wig, satin and velvet.
Reading key for Maurice-Quentin de La Tour
Works to discover
Works by Maurice-Quentin de La Tour
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Each reproduction is unique. Slight variations of touch and material testify to the painter's manual work.
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Frequently asked questions
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The painter uses the composition, values, colors and materials visible in the chosen work from the Maurice-Quentin de La Tour collection, with particular attention paid to the figures.
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