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PORTRAIT OF PIERRE HERCULE DE CHASTENET, COMTE DE PUYSEGUR (1694-1759)

Creator(s): Nicholas de Largillière (Painter)

On view in: Entry Hall


About this object

Largillierre was court painter to France’s King Louis XIV and painted numerous royals and aristocrats. Marjorie Post purchased the portrait in 1922 at auction in New York. It was displayed in all of her Manhattan residences and later graced the entry hall at Tregaron, her estate in Washington, D.C. from 1941 to 1955, and eventually the entry and second floor hallway here at Hillwood. In 1964, Post sent Largillierre’s painting to her daughter Eleanor in Paris in exchange for the return of Jean-Marc Nattier’s portrait of the Duchess of Parma (51.4) that Post gifted to her as a wedding present. Hillwood acquired this portrait at the 2017 sale in Paris of Eleanor’s collection.

Three-quarter length standing portrait of Pierre Hercule de Chastenet, Comte de Puysegur (1694-1759). He is wearing a powdered wig with curls over his shoulders, a long brown jacket decorated with gold embroidery, topped by a green velvet coat with a red and gold silk embroidered collar. Underneath, a white blouse with lace at the cuffs and neck, loosely tied with a pink ribbon. In the background at the left is a dark red curtain and at the right a column.

Object name:
PORTRAIT OF PIERRE HERCULE DE CHASTENET, COMTE DE PUYSEGUR (1694-1759)
Made from:
Oil on canvas -- gilded wood
Made in:
Paris, France
Date made:
1726
Size:
53 1/2 × 41 1/2 in. (135.9 × 105.4 cm)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
2018.1
Signature marks:
LABEL: Nicolas de Largillièrre/1656-1747/Portrait de Mr. le Comte de Puységur [Attached to the reverse of the frame, in French] NUMBER: 282 NY [Reverse, color: black] NUMBER: 925 2 EG 727 [Reverse, color: black] NUMBER: No. 40869 [Reverse of stretcher, color: red] HANDWRITTEN MARK: Picture 3 [Reverse of stretcher, color: black] PLAQUE: Nicolas de Largillierre (1656-1747) Portrait de Mr-le Comte de Puységur [Front of frame]
Credit line:
Museum purchase made possible by Ellen MacNeille Charles in memory of Eleanor Close Barzin