Portrait of a Man in Costume

c. 1767–68

The 18th-century artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard is best known for his lighthearted, amorous subjects. This work, painted in lively brushstrokes, represents another important aspect of his genius—his fantasy portraits, in which he referenced earlier artworks to enliven his own characterizations of patrons and artistic friends. In this instance, Fragonard references a painting of an actor by the Italian Baroque artist Domenico Fetti.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732–1806)

Date

c. 1767–68

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

80.3 × 64.7 cm (31 5/8 × 25 1/2 in.); Framed: 105.5 × 89.6 × 12.7 cm (41 1/2 × 35 1/4 × 5 in.)

Origin

France

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Gift of Mary and Leigh Block in honor of John Maxon