Large Oil Portrait Painting the Grand Prieur Jean Philippe D’Orléans in Golden Armour — After Jean-François De Troy

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The Grand Prieur Jean Philippe d’Orléans in Golden Armour — After Jean-François de Troy
This impressive historical oil portrait painting … Read more The Grand Prieur Jean Philippe d’Orléans in Golden Armour — After Jean-François de Troy
This impressive historical oil portrait painting presents Jean Philippe d’Orléans (1702–1748), Grand Prieur of the Order of Malta and recognised illegitimate son of Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France. Executed in 1985 by an anonymous artist of the 20th-century British School, the work is a sophisticated reinterpretation of the celebrated original by Jean-François de Troy—one of the pre-eminent portraitists of the early Rococo. With its dignified composition, luminous colour harmonies, and meticulously rendered surfaces, the painting encapsulates the aristocratic refinement associated with the Orléans dynasty.

The Sitter
Jean Philippe d’Orléans held one of the most prestigious posts within the Order of Malta, presiding over its French Langue as Grand Prieur. As the Regent’s son, he moved with ease through the highest strata of European nobility. His military service during the War of the Austrian Succession further enhanced his reputation for discipline, dignity, and cultivated taste. Portraits of him, including the de Troy original, were intended to project noble virtue, chivalric authority, and dynastic prestige.

Iconography and Presence
Depicted at half-length, the sitter wears gleaming gilt ceremonial armour, a powdered wig, and the cross of the Order of Malta—an ensemble that conveys elevated rank, military prowess, and chivalric legitimacy. His composed expression and controlled posture speak to the self-assured reserve expected of a high-ranking member of the French court. The verso inscription, “H.S. Chevalier d’Orléans after de Troyer,” confirms the artist’s intent to present a faithful homage to de Troy’s composition.

Composition and Painterly Approach
The sitter emerges from a softly modulated background of deep greens and warm umbers, an atmospheric field that heightens the immediacy of the figure while maintaining the quiet gravitas characteristic of early-18th-century portraiture. The artist employs controlled, refined brushwork with passages of transparent glazing, allowing subtle transitions of light across the armour and complexion. Gold and silver reflections are balanced with soft rose and umber flesh tones, crisp whites in the cravat, and gentle grey in the wig. The overall effect evokes the polished, courtly aesthetic that defined de Troy’s work.

Historical Context
The French Regency marked a pivotal period in the evolution of portraiture, shifting from late Baroque formality to the softer, more intimate realism of the emerging Rococo style. Jean-François de Troy played a central role in this transformation, producing portraits distinguished by their poise, elegance, and nuanced light. This 20th-century interpretation captures those defining traits, offering a modern yet perceptive continuation of de Troy’s visual language.

Frame
The portrait is set within an ornate Rococo-style gilt frame enriched with scrolling acanthus and floral ornament. Its warm gold tonality intensifies the armour’s radiance and reinforces the painting’s ceremonial aura.

Dimensions (Framed)
Height: 121 cm
Width: 95.5 cm
Depth: 6.5 cm

Provenance
Private Collection, Devon, England
Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD
Exhibited in Grace and Nobility: Portraiture of the French Court
Famous Lord Hill Museum, Autumn 2025

Significance
Uniting historical resonance with visual splendour, this portrait constitutes a compelling example of modern homage to 18th-century court portraiture. Its eminent subject, refined execution, and museum exhibition history make it particularly appealing to connoisseurs of aristocratic portraiture, French dynastic history, and Rococo-inspired work. As a decorative and scholarly object alike, it possesses both aesthetic authority and cultural gravitas See less