Portret van Marie Congnard-Batailhy, grootmoeder van de vrouw van de kunstenaar, bekend als 'La dame aux dentelles'

About this artwork

inscriptie, achterzijde: ‘Marie Cognard Ayeule de Marie Fargues Epouse de Jean Etienne Liotard qui l'a peinte en 1757’

Art Historical Context

This intimate pastel portrait, created in 1757 by Swiss artist Jean-Étienne Liotard, depicts Marie Congnard-Batailhy, the grandmother of the painter’s wife. Known affectionately as “La dame aux dentelles” (The Lady with the Laces), the work captures a personal family connection while showcasing Liotard’s remarkable skill in rendering delicate fabrics. An inscription on the reverse confirms both the sitter’s identity and the date, underscoring the portrait’s role as a cherished family keepsake now preserved in the Rijksmuseum. Liotard executed the likeness in pastel on vellum, a medium that allowed him to achieve the soft textures and subtle tonal gradations essential for depicting intricate lace. The choice of vellum, rather than the more common paper, provided a smooth surface that enhanced the fine detail of the sitter’s costume, reflecting the refined tastes of mid-eighteenth-century European portraiture. Beyond its technical beauty, the painting offers a glimpse into the private world of an artist who often traveled widely yet returned to portray those closest to him. The careful attention to lace and fabric speaks to both the sitter’s status and Liotard’s fascination with the tactile qualities of everyday elegance.

About the Artist

Jean-Etienne Liotard · 1692–1789

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