Description
This pastel drawing depicts François Tronchin, a prominent figure in his native Geneva and an impassioned patron of the arts. The table before Tronchin features a book, mathematical instruments, and papers that indicate his interests in architecture and music. Rembrandt's Lady in Bed, a painting that the Dutch master created around 1645 (today in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery) and the most highly prized painting in Tronchin's collection, rests on an easel nearby. Liotard considered the portrait of Tronchin among his finest works, and the meticulous rendering of the sitter's powdered wig, transparent flesh, and lace cuffs suggest the skill he had developed in pastel at this time.
Provenance
François Tronchin [1704-1798], Geneva, by descent to Jean-Louis Robert Tronchin (1757-1798); Jean-Louis Robert Tronchin [1763-
?], Geneva, by descent to Armand Henri Tronchin (1798-?); Armand Henri Tronchin [1794-1865], Bessinge, Sweden, by descent to Louis-Rémy-Nosky Tronchin (?-after 1865); Louis-Rémy-Nosky Tronchin [1825-1873], Geneva, by descent to Henry Tonchin (after 1865-after 1873); Henry Tronchin [1853-1891], by descent to Robert Tronchin (after 1873-after 1891); Robert Tronchin [1883-?], by descent to Christiane Tronchin, Marquise de Hillerin, Paris (by 1925-by 1948); Christiane Tronchin, Marquise de Hillerin, Paris, sold as part of the Tronchin collcetion to Xavier Givaudan (by 1948-1950); Xavier Givaudan, Geneva, by descent to André Givaudan (1950-by 1973); André Givaudan, Geneva (by 1973-after 1974); (Léon Givaudan, Paris, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH) (after 1974-1978); Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1978-)
Accession Number
1978.54
Medium
pastel on parchment
Dimensions
Unframed: 38 x 46.3 cm (14 15/16 x 18 1/4 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund
