Who painted Portrait of a man in a black wig?

Portrait of a man in a black wig was painted by Claude Lefèbvre in 1663.

Where can I see Portrait of a man in a black wig?

Portrait of a man in a black wig is held by National Museum in Warsaw.

What movement is Portrait of a man in a black wig?

Portrait of a man in a black wig is associated with French Classical Baroque.

Artwork

Portrait of a man in a black wig

Claude Lefèbvre , 1663

Portrait of a man in a black wig is an oil painting by the French Classical Baroque artist Claude Lefèbvre. It dates from 1663 and is held in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw.

About this work

Overview

Claude Lefèbvre’s oil portrait, dated around 1663, depicts a gentleman in a black wig and is part of the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. The work exemplifies mid‑seventeenth‑century French portraiture, focusing on a single sitter rendered with careful attention to dress and demeanor.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is presented with a sober expression, dressed in a light‑coloured shirt with lace‑trimmed cuffs and a ruffled collar, suggesting a status of refinement. His right hand rests on a dark surface while the left holds a small, dark object, perhaps a personal token or a symbol of his profession, reinforcing the portrait’s function as a record of identity.

Technique & Style

Lefèbvre employs a pronounced chiaroscuro, using stark contrasts between illuminated facial features and a deep, shadowed background to give the figure a three‑dimensional presence. The handling of light on the wig and lace demonstrates a refined brushwork that captures texture and materiality typical of French Baroque portraiture.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1663, the painting entered the holdings of the National Museum in Warsaw, where it remains on display. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent French artistic production of the 17th century within its European painting collection.