Unknown European Gentleman

by Anonymous

$1,500 · Offered by Donald A. Heald Rare Books · No longer available

A strikingly well done portrait of a successful European gentleman with piercing eyes. Pastel portraits were popular in Europe, Great Britain and America during most of the 18th century, especially in the 1770s and 80s. They provided a more rapid way of rendering a likeness in bright colors that didn't yellow. This was a golden age for portrait painting, which exemplified the optimistic views of the Enlightenment: a sitter was not ashamed to show his or her wealth,

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