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Other titles
Portrait of Madame de La Porte, half length, wearing a white satin dress with gold embroidery and a blue cloak, with flowers in her hair
Portrait of a young woman
1754
Painting
oil on canvas
82.0 x 65.5cm stretcher; 111.0 x 94.5 x 10.0cm frame
Gift of William Bowmore OBE 1992
119.1992
Art Gallery of NSW, Ground Level, European Art 15th-18th Century Galleries, Fairfax Galleries/Room 3
Further information
Recently established as the portrait of a fellow painter's wife, this image is the last word in high fashion. The sitter's ensemble, overstated for any but an occasion of high formality, capitalises on a rumpled sash winding its attention-seeking way around Madame de la Porte's petite torso. Her overly bright eyes and eggshell skin contribute to an effect of artificiality. Although Nattier was not capable of Boucher's moments of naturalism, this image marks a shift in that direction, and away from the far more formally baroque language of his state portraits. In keeping with the high value placed on harmonious social relations in this age of Enlightenment, the present sitter regards the spectator with a look of courtesy mingled with candour. She is confident, yet not condescending. Her trust in Nattier is clear and clearly reciprocated.
AGNSW Handbook, 1999.
Provenance
William Bowmore (Australia, b.1909), 1976-04 Jun 1992, Sydney/New South Wales/Australia, Gift of William Bowmore 1992. In the collection of Bowmore by 1976. This painting was offered for sale at Christie's, London 14 Dec 1990, lot 72, but did not sell.
Agnew's, London (England, estab. 1817), 1976, London/England
Abby Rockefeller Mauze (United States of America, b.1903, d.1976), 1955-1976?, New York/New York/United States of America, Purchased by Abby Rockefeller Mauze, 1955
Wildenstein & Co. (United States of America, estab. 1903), 13 Mar 1946-1955, New York/New York/United States of America, Purchased by Wildenstein, London from Frank Partridge, 13 March 1946. Sold to Abby Rockefeller Mauze, 1955
Frank Partridge (England), 22 Feb 1946-13 Mar 1946, London/England, [dealer] Purchased by Frank Partridge from Morton Lee, 22 February 1946.
Morton Lee (England), pre 22 Feb 1946, England, [dealer] Eminent dealer in French art
Lady Louis Mountbatten (England, b.1901, d.1960), post 1932, London/England, by descent, Edwina Mountbatten granddaughter of Ernest Cassel
Wilhelmina Cassel (Germany; England, d.1932?), 21 Sep 1921-1932?, England, by descent, sister of Sir Cassel. Wilhelmina Cassel was bequeathed all of Sir Cassel's furniture, glass, pictures, fixtures and fittings and several properties for use during her life time, these all passed to Edwina Mountbatten.
Sir Ernest Cassel (Germany; England, b.1852, d.1921), 10 Sep 1908-21 Sep 1921, London/England, Purchased by Sir Cassel from Duveen Brothers, Paris 10 September 1908
Duveen Brothers (London, New York, Paris), Aug 1907-10 Sep 1908, Paris/France, [dealer] Kann Collection stock no. 152
Kann Estate (France), 1905-Aug 1907, Paris/France, Collection inherited by Kann's two sons and sold 'en bloc' in August 1907 to Duveen Brothers.
Rodolphe Kann (France, b.1845, d.1905), circa 1900-1905, Paris/France, In the collection of Kann by 1900, see 'Gemaeldesammlung des Herrn Rudolf Kann in Paris' by W Bode, 1900.
Rodolphe Kann began collecting in 1880, after his death in 1905 his two sons inherited his collection and sold it 'en bloc' in August 1907 to Duveen Brothers.
Bibliography
Exhibition catalogue; The Fine Art of Giving: 90 Masterpieces from the William Bowmore Collection; Ron Radford (Australia, b.1949); 1999, 44, 45 (colour illus.), 73, 'The collection in focus' by Angus Trumble pg.29-71, cat.no. 11
Exhibition catalogue; Jean-Marie Nattier 1685-1766; Xavier Salmon; 1999, 262 (illus.), fig. 6, illustrated in reference to cat.no. 74, 'Portrait presume de Marie-Aine Camasse' 1755
General/Book; Art Gallery of New South Wales handbook; Bruce James (Australia), Edmund Capon (England; Australia, b.1940); 1999, 31 (colour illus.), 'Western Collection: Paintings and Sculpture' by Bruce James, pg. 17-77.
Exhibition catalogue; Great gifts, great patrons: an exhibition celebrating private patronage of the Gallery; Art Gallery of New South Wales (Australia, estab. 1874); 1994, no catalogue numbers
General/Book; The Art Gallery of New South Wales collections; Ewen McDonald (Australia); 1994, 124, 125 (colour illus.), 'The Western Heritage, Renaissance to Twentieth Century' by Renée Free, pg. 108-172.
Auction catalogue; Christie's London - Old Master Pictures; Editor Unknown; 14 Dec 1990, 120, 121 (colour illus.), cat.no. 72
Exhibition catalogue; A family exhibit, for the benefit of the National Urban League; M. Knoedler and Co, New York (United States of America); 1959, 23 (illus.), cat.no. 25
Exhibition catalogue; O Retrato na Franca; Museu de Arte (Brazil); 1952, 32, 33 (illus.)
Exhibition catalogue; French XVIIIth century paintings; Wildenstein & Co. (United States of America, estab. 1903); 1948, (illus.), cat.no. 34
Periodical; Tableaux; Editor Unknown; 1907, 62 (illus.), 'Catalogue de la collection de M. Rudolphe Kann', cat.no. 152
Periodical; Les Arts; Editor Unknown; Mar 1903, 4 (illus.), 'La collection de M. Rudolphe Kann' by A. Marguillier.
Periodical; Gazette des Beaux-Arts; Editor Unknown; Jun 1901, 503-4, 'La galerie de M Rudolphe Kann' by E.Michel.
Book; Gemaeldesammlung des Herrn Rudolf Kann in Paris; W Bode; 1900, plate no. 90
Exhibition venue
Title: The Fine Art of Giving: 90 Masterpieces from the William Bowmore Collection
Venue: Art Gallery of South Australia
Opening: 02 Nov 1999
Closing: 01 Apr 2000
Curator: Radford, Ron
Notes: cat.no. 11
Title: Great gifts, great patrons
Venue: Art Gallery of New South Wales
Opening: 17 Aug 1994
Closing: 19 Oct 1994
Title: A family exhibit, for the benefit of the National Urban League
Venue: M. Knoedler and Co, New York
Opening: 06 Apr 1959
Closing: 25 Apr 1959
Notes: cat.no. 25
Title: Unknown, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 1954
Venue: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Opening: 1954
Closing: 1954
Notes: L54.1716, lent by Wildenstein & Co
Title: O Retrato na Franca
Venue: Museu de Arte
Opening: Jan 1952
Closing: Jan 1952
Title: French XVIIIth century paintings
Venue: Wildenstein & Co.
Opening: 1948
Closing: 1948
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