Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée (Paris 1724-1805)

This panel is one in a series of four paintings that were commissioned by Hyacinthe-Hugues Timoleon, Marquis De Cossé. Along with his brother, Francois-Arthus-Hyacinthe Timoleon, Chevalier de Cossé, the Marquis was an important patron of the Arts in Paris during the second quarter of the 18th century. Jacques Bouillard produced engravings dedicated to the Marquis de Cossé in 1783 (fig. 1).

We are grateful to Alastair Laing for confirming the attribution on the basis of a photograph and for identifying the picture in the artist’s list of his paintings as well as noting that it was among those sent to the Salon of 1779 by the Marquis de Cossé.