A work made of pastel on blue-gray laid paper, laid down on canvas and wrapped around a strainer, enlarged by the artist with a band of paper about 3 cm high.

Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)

c. 1752

Maurice-Quentin de La Tour French, 1704–1788

France

In 1747, the noted violinist and composer Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville married Anne-Jeanne Boucon (1708-1780), the daughter of a great art collector and herself a noted musician. She asked La Tour to make her likeness but claimed she could only pay half his usual rate. It is said that La Tour drew this complex, powerful portrait in just one sitting. When Mme de Mondonville sent him the amount she had promised, their friendship was ruptured.

Pastel on blue-gray laid paper, laid down on canvas and wrapped around a strainer, enlarged by the artist with a band of paper about 3 cm high

Prints and Drawings