The painting: Oval portrait, XVIII Presumably depicting Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle - Duchesse de Châteauroux She was a prominent figure in the XVIII-century French court. She was one of the de Nesle sisters, four siblings who all became mistresses to King Louis XV of France at different times. Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle became the king’s chief mistress from 1742 to 1744. As the chief mistress, she wielded significant influence over the king and played a role in political matters of the time. However, her tenure as the king’s mistress was relatively short-lived, as she passed away in 1744 at a young age. Marie Anne de Mailly-Nesle is often remembered as one of the Nesle sisters who had a relationship with Louis XV and had an impact on the politics and society of the era. Medium: Oil on canvas, doubled/relined. Retouches as seen in the UV-light photographs, Retouching made to areas that are not damaged, That possibly indicate that the portrait was painted under supervision by the master, Example one brush stroke made to the lips, individual hairs etc. These retouches were made to alter the painting and not to restore areas of damage.. There are also retouches that were made to the damaged areas, like the upper right shoulder, and her brooch, the painting is in very good condition considering There is no colour loss, but the painting is in craquelure condition, Based on extensive research of countless painters and artworks, we have come to the conclusion to appropriately present the painting, Reference photographs can be seen from picture 33 that shows the consistency and similarity between the paintings The frame: Two piece frame, with outer and inner wooden frame, is a genuine French Louis XV carved and gilded swept frame, with foliate outer edge; outer scotia; the pierced corners and centres of the swept scotia with rocaille cartouches with scalloped shell motifs. And appears to be consistent with the oval portraits done by Jean-Marc Nattier and his studio/workshop, Reference photographs last images, The frame is massive, it weighs circa 20kilograms Including the portrait, full dimensions are 90 x 78 x 14 cm including the painting, Without the frame the portrait is, Approx 61 x 50 cm Frame has some wear/minor damages Shipping: Custom packaging is required, extensive packaging materials will be used and will be shipped in a wooden box. We expect a weight of approximately 30 kilograms. And delivery to your door for practical convenience, (If specific delivery is not stated) Fully insured and with traceable shipment, We always aim for highest customer satisfaction and we prioritise customer integrity, our goal is to deliver high end quality artworks and services, We are available throughout the process for further questions or queries, Our recommendations: Further examination is required, as we have not taken this portrait to art historians or laboratories to perform Infrared Reflectography” or “Infrared Imaging.” This method involves using infrared light to capture images that reveal the underdrawing and hidden layers of a painting. Additionally, another technique often used in conjunction with this is “X-radiography,” which uses X-rays to examine the hidden layers and structure of the artwork. These methods are valuable for art conservation and analysis. Alternatively to perform Carbon-14 dating, Carbon-14 dating, often referred to as radiocarbon dating, is a method used to determine the age of organic materials, including paintings or their components, such as wooden panels or canvas. The application of C-14 dating to paintings and their components can provide valuable insights into their creation and age, helping art historians and conservators understand their historical context and authenticity. ——————————————————— Exclusively auctioned via Catawiki #StephaneVanhandenhovenCollection #JimmyNelsonCollection #parisapartment