Le portrait au XVIIe siècle : concept de beauté et principe de ressemblance

The 17th century Portrait : the concept of beauty and the principle of resemblance. Based on the reaction of the court to DeTroy’s portrait of the Dauphine, Marie Anne Christine Victoire de Bavière, and the theoretical writings of Félibien and DePiles, the author analyses the paradox between the idea of beauty and the necessity of maintaining resemblance in the courtly portrait. In order to reconcile truth with verisimilitude, based on examples of their respective heroes, van Dyke and Rubens, both Félibien and DePiles offer reflections on : 1) the choice of correct proportions of the individual traits ; 2) embellishments on nature that may be made ; 3) the expression of the temperament of the individual by his/her facial features and 4) the promptness of the execution. Thus, the painter may hope to render the illusion of noble presence and, by faithfully portraying the subject, a true impression of life.Riondet Philippe. Le portrait au XVIIe siècle : concept de beauté et principe de ressemblance. In: Histoire de l'art, N°37-38, 1997. Figures. pp. 55-68