3-044-042 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait of Théophile Van Robais, 1770. Additional Info: Before a creamy beige background, Théophile Van Robais meets our eye with a direct and measured gaze. The delicate surface of the pastel conveys the textures of his closely shaven skin and neatly powdered, single-curl wig. Rather than crowding the composition with genre details, Perronneau included just one hint at a setting: the outline of a velvet-backed chair visible in the shadows. Théophile van Robais (1732-1799), belonged to a wealthy family of textile manufacturers from northern France.