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The Cleveland Museum of Art
Portrait of Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne the Younger
Description
This signed portrait reinterprets a well-known pastel by Maurice-Quentin de La Tour of the important French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne the younger (1704–1778). The sculptor, seen toward the end of his life, appears in working garb. His close-cropped grey hair, frank, observant stare, and bemused smile all demonstrate the closeness of the young painter to the elder sculptor. The work also speaks to Vigée-LeBrun’s interest in naturalistic portraiture (as opposed to her more formal, commissioned portraits), and—in the handling of the paint as well as her source image—her debt to pastel painting, her original medium.
Provenance
Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne the Younger (1704-1778), Paris, France, by inheritance to the Lemoyne Family; Lemoyne Family, by inheritance to Yves Le Moyne; Yves Le Moyne, sold through Hotel Drouot; Sale: Hotel Drouot, Paris, France, February 5, 1912, lot 76; Paul J. Vignos, Jr. (1919-2010), Cleveland, OH, upon his death, held in trust by the estate.; Estate of Paul J. Vignos, Jr., by bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
Dimensions
37.4 × 44.1 cm
Movement / Period
Accession No
2011.49
Official Citations
Curatorial Affinity Stream
Continuing the Universe of Elisabeth Louise Vigée-LeBrun (French, 1755–1842)
European Painting and Sculpture • France, 18th century • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries
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