✦ FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE EU ✦ This elegantly painted oval portrait depicts a distinguished noble gentleman, executed by the celebrated Belgian artist Jean-Baptiste Madou. The sitter appears in three-quarter view, dressed in refined 19th-century attire—a dark tailored coat, a high white collar, and a meticulously rendered cravat—while his composed expression, calm gaze, and sensitively modelled features convey dignity, education, and elevated social standing. In the upper left corner, Madou included a pair of heraldic shields, likely representing the sitter’s family coat of arms; although presently unidentified, these armorial devices clearly indicate noble lineage and reinforce the portrait’s aristocratic provenance. Rendered with exceptional precision, the work demonstrates Madou’s early mastery of portraiture, characterised by subtle handling of light, finely graduated skin tones, and sharply defined clothing textures, executed before he achieved broader fame as a pioneering Belgian lithographer and later as a celebrated painter of genre scenes. Jean-Baptiste Madou (1796–1877), trained at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, was among the leading early figures to elevate lithography into an esteemed artistic medium in Belgium, gaining recognition in the 1820s and 1830s through his widely admired illustrated works. From the 1840s onward he returned to painting, producing portraits and lively genre scenes noted for their clarity, psychological depth, and refined execution. His works are now held in major collections, including the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium. This portrait thus stands as a rare and distinguished example of aristocratic representation by a major master of 19th-century Belgian art. ⦿ Signed, monogramme l.r.: MD ⦿ Dimensions (approx.): 67 cm ⌀ (oval artwork) ⦿ Condition: Exhibits an authentic patina of age (see pictures). ⦿ Estimated Period: mid 19th century. ⦿ Shipping: Fast dispatch ✓ Tracked ✓ Insured ✓ Eco-friendly ✓   – Dispatched from Germany, or local (free coffee:)) pick-up available ⦿ Colour Disclaimer: Digital screens display colours differently; the item may appear slightly different in person. ⦿ Please consider reusing or recycling the packaging. Thank you! ⦿ Due to updated U.S. customs regulations, shipments into the USA may require additional processing time upon arrival. Import duties or customs fees—if applied—are the buyer’s responsibility. Please ensure your shipping details are complete and accurate to help avoid delays.