Portrait of Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon (1708-1780)

This exquisite pastel portrait, dating from 1752, captures the elegant Madame Anne-Jeanne Cassanéa de Mondonville, née Boucon. The medium of pastel, applied to blue-gray laid paper and then mounted on canvas, allows for a remarkable softness and luminosity, perfectly suited to the Rococo aesthetic of the mid-18th century. The artist, known only as Maurice, demonstrates a keen eye for detail, particularly in the delicate rendering of her features and attire. The subtle enlargement of the artwork by the artist, adding a band of paper to the top, suggests a dedication to achieving the perfect composition. While details about the artist 'Maurice' are scarce beyond this work, the quality of this portrait places him among the skilled practitioners of the era. The piece offers a fascinating glimpse into the portraiture trends and the social standing of women in 18th-century France.