Pierre-Denis Martin

This fine scene of a stag hunt is typical of the style of Pierre-Denis Martin and seems to figure King Louis XV, who is recognizable not only from his facial features but also from his attributes, in particular the Order of the Holy Spirit on his breast: he had been a Grand Master since his birth in 1715.

Pierre-Denis Martin was well versed in the genre of ‘diplomatic painting’. He trained in the workshop of Van der Meulen, from which Jean-Baptiste Martin, known as ‘Martin des Batailles’ also emerged. Through his master’s teaching, the artist perfected his approach to the equestrian figure and elaborately liveried companies and thereafter devoted himself to military and diplomatic painting. His skills won him the title of ‘Peintre Ordinaire du Roi’. Better known for his large compositions with topographical views of royal châteaux or great victories, he also painted hunting scenes. In particular, he is attributed with The hunt departs from the Château de Marly, in the Musée du Domaine Royal in Marly (MPR 12095).

This easel painting was probably intended for a private collection, perhaps belonging to a member of the King’s company. The care that has been taken with the protagonists’ facial features as well as with the stag seems to suggest a specific hunt. Likewise, the outline of the Château, unfortunately not sufficiently precise for identification, would seem to hint at a particular location. It could be one of the royal residences that had kennels, such as Versailles, Marly Fontainebleau or Compiègne. It is a pity that the date is illegible because the answer would probably otherwise be found in one of the two handwritten volumes Chasses de l’équipage du roi pour le cerf and Chasses de la petite meute du roi pour le cerf, recording hunts from 1743 to 1767, in the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Département des Manuscrits, Français 7848; Français 1749; Français 1750).