Artwork
Portrait de Conrad Detlef, comte de Dehn
Portrait de Conrad Detlef, comte de Dehn is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Nicolas de Largillière. It dates from 1724 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created in 1724, this oil portrait shows Conrad Detlef, Count of Dehn, seated in an elegant pose.
About this work
Technique & Style
The relatively modest scale and vertical format are typical of individual portraits from this period, designed for intimate viewing rather than grand display.
The portrait is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 92.5 × 74.5 cm. Largillière's handling of the medium reflects the refined conventions of early eighteenth-century French portraiture, with particular attention to the textures of aristocratic costume and the dignified bearing of the sitter. The relatively modest scale and vertical format are typical of individual portraits from this period, designed for intimate viewing rather than grand display.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created in 1724 by Nicolas de Largillière in oil on canvas. According to Wikidata records, the work is held in the collection of the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, which is also listed as its current location, with an additional collection association noted at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
No information regarding the original commission, the chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition, or specific provenance details is documented in the available sources.
The portrait of Conrad Detlef, comte de Dehn, by Nicolas de Largillière is held at the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum. While the Metropolitan Museum of Art is listed in some records as a collection associated with the work, the primary location is confirmed as the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum. The painting was created in 1724.
No specific inventory or accession numbers are provided in the available sources, nor is there any recorded exhibition history for this work.
Context
Nicolas de Largillière painted Portrait de Conrad Detlef, comte de Dehn in 1724, a work now held by the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum and also part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. The painting exemplifies the portrait genre within early 18th-century French art, reflecting the conventions of aristocratic representation of the period. Its dimensions of 92.5 cm by 74.5 cm underscore its status as a full-length portrait, aligning with contemporary practices for depicting nobility.
Overview
Created in 1724, this oil portrait shows Conrad Detlef, Count of Dehn, seated in an elegant pose. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the refined portraiture for which the French artist Nicolas de Largillière was renowned during the early 18th century.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is presented with long, curled white hair, a richly patterned red‑and‑gold coat, and aristocratic accessories, a black hat in his right hand and a white glove in his left. The composition conveys status and dignity, emphasizing the count’s noble rank through his attire and the composed, formal demeanor.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas de Largillière (French:; baptised 10 October 1656 – 20 March 1746) was a French painter and draughtsman. From 1733 until 1735, he was director of the Académie de Peinture et de Sculpture.
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