Alexis-Simon Belle

The colours of the painting seem a little bit darker compared to the catalogue illustration. Good overall condition. The canvas has been correctly relined about 30 years ago. It is slightly worn on the right of the face, in the perruke. Some retouches in the coat, in the lower right corner. Under ultraviolet light: There is a restoration on the right, in the perruke. A vertical retouche (3 cm) is visible in the sitter's left cheek. Another retouche in the red coat, on the right, close to the collar, due to an old tear. The piece of furniture in the lower left corner has been underlined and there is a small retouche in the book edge.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. 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 lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Issu d'une famille protestante, Alexis-Simon Belle fut l'élève de François de Troy. Il s'illustra comme peintre de portraits à la cour jacobite des Stuart, alors exilée et établie à Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Il fut reçu en 1703 à l'Académie Royale et se vit confier en 1722 une importante commande de portraits à l'occasion du Sacre de Louis XV. Belle réalisa également les portraits de personnages moins officiels, aristocrates, bourgeois ou modèles aux conditions plus modestes.

C'est à ce type de commande privée que se rattache notre portrait. L'expression de bienveillance qui transparaît sur le visage du modèle rappelle les peintures réalistes de François de Troy. Belle accorde une attention particulière à l'attitude du personnage et au rendu de certains détails, exprimant toute la délicatesse de son geste et la transparence de sa chemise.

Nous remercions Monsieur Dominique Brême d'avoir confirmé l'attribution de notre tableau à Alexis-Simon Belle après examen direct de l'œuvre.


PORTRAIT OF A SEATED MAN WEARING A RED COAT AND HOLDING A LETTER

Oil on canvas

Born into a protestant family, Alexis-Simon Belle was a pupil of François de Troy's. He made a name for himself as a portraitist at the jacobite court of the Stuarts, who were then exiled and living at Saint-Germain-en-Laye. He was received into the Académie Royale in 1703 and in 1722 he received important portrait commissions on the occasion of Louis XV's anointing. Belle also painted the portraits of figures of lesser standing, aristocrats, middle-class sitters, and others of considerably more modest backgrounds.

The present portrait belongs to this group of private commissions. The benevolent expression of the sitter recalls the realistic representations of François de Troy. Belle devotes particular attention to the figure's manner as well as to the execution of certain details, thus he portrays with great naturalism both the sitter's gesture and the transparency of his shirt.

We are grateful to Mr. Dominique Brême for having endorsed the attribution to Alexis-Simon Belle following first hand inspection.