Lot Details
Description
Laurent Dufour circle of
Portrait of Victor Amadeus II of Savoy as a child
Olio on canvas
in 37,40x51,18
The painting depicts the very young Duke Victor Amadeus II of Savoy wearing a ceremonial cuirass, holding the commander’s mace of the army, and adorned with the Collar of the Order of the Annunziata. In the background is a rich arrangement of red silk draperies. Intended as a ceremonial furnishing for a public building or a noble residence, the composition is clearly derived, on the iconographic level, from Pierre Mignard’s portrait of the young Duke (“il Duchino”), now housed in Palazzo Madama, Turin. Mignard’s work served as the prototype and source of inspiration for numerous paintings.
The present work, under study here, can be attributed to the circle of Laurent Dufour, a member of a true dynasty of painters spanning three generations, who played a decisive role in the embellishment and reconstruction of the churches of Savoy. The patriarch, Pierre Dufour, son of Denis Dufour, was born in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne at the beginning of the seventeenth century and, in 1627, became a citizen of Annecy, a city he left in 1630 to escape the plague, settling instead in Saint-Michel. From his first marriage he had four children, three of whom are known to have inherited their father’s talent: Pierre the Younger, Laurent, and Gabriel, all of whom trained in their father’s workshop in Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne. Each eventually left the valley to settle at the Duke’s court in Turin, where they undertook various court commissions, including portraiture.
From the critical analysis, Dott.ssa Arabella Cifani
The painting is accompanied by:
Expertise Dott.ssa Arabella Cifani
Dimensions
in 37,40x51,18
Provenance
Private collection
Conditions
Recent restoration
Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each product to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Coradi Rare Finds is merely a subjective opinion.
