Description
An admirer of Rosalba Carriera, Liotard evolved a highly personal, realist style that was not well received by the Academicians in Paris, but was welcomed in England, Holland, and his native Geneva. This portrait was made at the height of Liotard's career in Geneva, during a period (c. 1757-63) in which he portrayed the most politically and intellectually vital individuals in that city. Liotard depicted no less than eight members of the Tronchin family, one of the most important and influential dynasties of the Swiss Republic.
Provenance
Husband of the sitter, Jean-Robert Tronchin (died 1793), Geneva [invoice]; by descent to his brother, François Tronchin (died 1798) [invoice]; by descent to Jean-Louis-Robert Tronchin [invoice]; by descent to Louis-Rémy-Nosky Tronchin [invoice]; by descent to Henri Tronchin [invoice]; by descent to Robert Tronchin, by 1925 [Geneva 1925]; by descent to Christiane Tronchin, Marquise de Hillerin, Geneva, by 1948 [Paris 1948]; sold Xavier Givaudan, Geneva, 1950 [invoice and letter from Guy Stair Sainty of January 25, 1985 in curatorial file]; by descent to André Givaudan, Geneva, by 1974 [Geneva 1974]. Léon Givaudan [invoice]. Sold by Stair Sainty Matthiesen Gallery, New York, to the Art Institute, 1985.
Accession Number
104095
Medium
Pastel on vellum
Dimensions
61 × 47 cm (24 1/16 × 18 9/16 in.)
Classification
pastel
Credit Line
Clarence Buckingham Collection
