In the 18th century, pastel experienced a resurgence in popularity among artists in Europe, as pastel sticks became more durable, vibrant and affordable. At the same time, artists were rediscovering the medium’s distinctive velvety texture and luminous effects. These qualities, along with the medium’s speed, made pastel ideally suited for informal portraiture. In this example by Guillaume Voiriot, a gentleman looks up from his reading to converse lightly with the artist. Voiriot portrays him fondly and with a sense of intimacy, suggesting that this sitter may be one of the close friends or family members who sat frequently for the artist.
Details
- Artist Name: Guillaume Voiriot (French, 1713-1799)
- Title: Portrait of a Man
- Date: 1753
- Medium: Pastel on paper
- Dimensions: 23-1/4 x 19-1/8 in. (59.1 x 48.6 cm)
- Credit Line: The Norton Simon Foundation
- Accession Number: F.1983.19.P
- Copyright: © The Norton Simon Foundation
Object Information
(sale, London, Sotheby’s, 28 June 1979, lot 216, ill., to);
Norton Simon, gift 1983 to;
The Norton Simon Foundation.
Winter Exhibition: France in the Eighteenth Century
- Royal Academy of Arts (Great Britain), 1968-01-06 to 1968-03-03
Six Centuries of Portraiture from the Permanent Collection
- Norton Simon Museum, 1989-11-02 to 1990-12-16
- Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, 2010, cat. 1614 p. 427
Image reproduction permission may be granted for scholarly or arts related commercial use. All image requests, regardless of their intended purpose, should be submitted via the reproduction request form.
Images may be protected by copyright and other intellectual property rights. Additional permission may be required.
Approved requests for the reproduction of an image will receive a contract detailing all fees and conditions of use of the image. Upon receipt of both the signed contract and full payment, the Office of Rights and Reproductions will provide the image. A complimentary copy of the published material must be provided to the Norton Simon Museum.