This enchanting late 17th-century French oil painting depicts an elegant gentleman in a silk robe with his right index finger on an open book. Stylistically, it’s comparable to the oeuvre of Jacques d'Agar (1640-1715).

Dressed in a rather ostentatious embroidered silk robe, which is seemingly held closed by his left hand, he conveys the air of an enlightened scholar. Behind, a classical column indicates his distinguished lineage, while an open book demonstrates his superior knowledge.

The pages display Latin lettering, which appears to reference Neptune, the god of the sea, Pan, the god of the wild, and Diana, the goddess of childbirth and fertility. It also reads ‘Henry Rules’, which presumably relates to the French King Henry IV, who was raised in the Protestant faith.

Given the date of the piece, it’s conceivably a hidden message as to the sitter’s political leanings and possibly a criticism of King Louis XIV. Is this a gentleman of Huguenot descent perhaps?

Jacques d'Agar was born in Paris, trained under Jacob Ferdinand Voet and became ‘painter-in-ordinary’ to the King and his court. As a protestant, he left France following the revocation of Henry IV’s ‘Edict of Nantes’ in 1682, which led to a mass exodus of Huguenots.

Held within a beautiful Louis XIV carved giltwood frame with incised strapwork and leaf/flower corners, which is probably original.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 38” x 41” / 97cm x 104cm
Year of creation: c. 1675
Labels & Inscriptions: Stencil on reverse, which possibly relates to a Christie's sale.
Provenance: Private collection, France.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Canvas relined. Faint stretcher mark. Fine craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.
Our reference: BRV2016