Charles-Nicolas Cochin

Sale, Paris, Thierry de Maigret, 30 March 2011, part of lot 134;

with Didier Aaron & Cie, Paris, 2012,

where acquired by Diane A. Nixon

Although the sitter in this delightful portrait drawing has not been identified, it is a particularly appealing example of Cochin’s very refined drawn portraits. The rectangular, rather than round format and the three-quarter length view provide a more intimate and engaging portrait than the cameo inspired portrait profiles, for which Cochin is perhaps better known.

Also noteworthy is the fact that the drawing depicts a woman playing chess, an unusual subject for this period.