Gentleman with Red and Blue Cape

This portrait shows an unknown gentleman in a brown coat and blue cape with a red collar in front of a cloudy sky painted in English manner. He is looking at the observer with a satisfied calmness. It is a studio copy of an original which Augustin probably used as an object of study for his students rather than selling it.¹ Augustin's notebook, the Carnet vert,proves that he taught over 400 students in the course of his life.² They came to Paris from various countries to study with him; most of them, however, considered the art of miniature painting to be a fashionable pastime rather than serious work from which they could make a living. Since this studio copy shows a skill which could scarcely be reached by an amateur, it may be concluded that it was created by a future professional painter.