Claude Vignon, Portrait of the Singer, 1625, Oil on Canvas

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Description

Claude vignon (tours, 1593 – paris, 1670)
portrait of a singer in a doublet

circa 1625

oil on canvas (105 … Read more Claude vignon (tours, 1593 – paris, 1670)
portrait of a singer in a doublet

circa 1625

oil on canvas (105 x 79 cm - framed 120 x 94 cm)

the work has been the subject of a detailed study by dr. Daniele fiore (2019).

we present this interesting portrait of a young singer, immortalized from the front while holding his score, elegantly dressed in a damask doublet with puffed sleeves, from which emerges a shirt with a soft collar, cinched at the waist with a sash, in typical renaissance fashion.

the sitter is depicted with a disheveled hairstyle, as if he had just been hit by a gust of wind that ruffled his hair and bent the corner of the sheet of music, revealing several capital letters (the first, cruciform, perhaps an "f"; the second, a "b" with a probable apical sign; the third, a "c").

in this sense, the facial expression, with the mouth open as if reaching for the perfect note and the gaze turned upward, leaves one wondering whether those eyes are searching for the perfect note or cursing the unexpected draft.

the young man's intense gaze seems so lost in a "dreamy distance" that it makes him fascinating, emphasized by the soft rendering of the light that defines the volumes of his face.

his pose is also curious, with his left hand held under his jacket, giving the impression of a relaxed posture, as if the young man were improvising a song with his hand in his pocket and his right hip resting with his elbow on a balustrade.

an analysis of the composition and style would allow us to compare the execution to the french artist claude vignon (tours, 1593 – paris, 1670), illustrating a subject typical of the figurative repertoire conceived by the great master, very close to the world of music.

in his portraits, vignon skillfully modulated caravaggio's chiaroscuro with the light colors favored by his fellow french artists working in rome and venice. The rich chromatic material, vignon's distinctive signature, converges here in a rapid, frayed brushstroke.

after studying in paris with jacob bunel, one of the most famous masters of the reign of henry iv, he moved to rome to complete his training (c. 1610–1623) under the influence of caravaggio and his followers. He distinguished himself with an eclectic style, characterized by bright colors, thick brushstrokes, and a distinctive expressiveness, with a free and theatrical composition.

based on this attribution, confirmed by a study on the painting by dr. Daniele fiore in 2019, the painting in question could be part of the "triptych of the singers" that claude vignon is said to have executed in the 1620s. This work, in addition to the painting presented here, consists of two other canvases, one currently at the louvre in paris and the other auctioned at sotheby's in december 2008.

additional information:

the painting is sold complete with a beautiful gilded frame and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic. This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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