Gentleman in Black Coat and Embroidered Blue Waistcoat

This portrait of a young, unknown gentleman in a black coat with a gold-embroidered bright blue waistcoat fits into a series of portraits of gentlemen in a plain posture before a grey background painted by Rouvier. The broad, somewhat blurred brush structure in the sitter’s face and the painting of background and clothes in gouache colours are reminiscent of works by François Dumont, the miniature painter from Lorraine. However, Rouvier’s works are softer, more graceful and altogether more expressive than those of Dumont. His sitters have a calm, relaxed expression and a cheerful smile. The colouring is dominated by carefully graded violet shades tending towards grey, with single accentuations in bright glowing colours. Moreover, the artist usually carefully lightened the grey background to achieve greater plasticity.
B. P.