Gentleman in Grey Coat with Blue and White Striped Waistcoat

When painting this young gentleman with conspicuously light-coloured eyes, Périn was at the peak of his artistic skills. Despite the small format he competently applied the colours with broad strokes of the brush. Though some details are only suggested, they appear complete.¹ All of Périn’s miniatures with a woodland background which are in this catalogue show a clearing in the right side of the picture. Périn increased the tension of this portrait by showing the sitter turned away from the clearing. In his other miniatures the model faces towards the clearing. Perhaps he wished to prevent the impression of vanity. The man’s slightly snub nose, a feature that was poorly regarded in the 18th century and often associated with being simple, is emphasised less strongly due to the frontal lighting than if the gentleman had been depicted facing to the right and away from the light source. However, here the sitter had to be illuminated from the left, because otherwise the miniaturist’s right hand would have cast a shadow on his own work during painting.
B. P.