Profielportret van een jonge man met pruik

About this artwork

collector's mark, verso, on the mount, lower right: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

Behold the delicate *Profielportret van een man met pruik* (Profile Portrait of a Man with Wig), a gem crafted by French artist Augustin de Saint-Aubin between 1750 and 1840. This intimate black chalk drawing, measuring just 85 mm high by 67 mm wide, captures the poised profile of a youthful sitter adorned with the elaborate powdered wig fashionable among 18th-century European elites. Saint-Aubin, part of the renowned Saint-Aubin family of artists known for their Rococo finesse, excelled in portraiture and engraving, often blending sharp observation with graceful lines. Rendered in black chalk—a medium prized for its soft, nuanced shading and portability—this miniature work exemplifies the era's emphasis on refined draftsmanship. Such small-scale portraits were popular as personal keepsakes or studies for larger engravings, reflecting the Enlightenment's fascination with individuality and classical profile views reminiscent of ancient coins. The verso bears a collector's mark (Lugt 2228) on the mount, signaling its esteemed provenance and survival through centuries of connoisseurship. This artwork invites us into the powdered elegance of pre-Revolutionary France, where a simple chalk sketch could immortalize status and style. A testament to Saint-Aubin's technical mastery, it whispers stories of vanished salons and powdered heads.

About the Artist

Augustin de Saint-Aubin · 1736–1807

Comment on works: Illustrator; Engraver