Who painted A Magistrate?

A Magistrate was painted by Rigaud Hyacinthe in 1709.

Where can I see A Magistrate?

A Magistrate is held by Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

What movement is A Magistrate?

A Magistrate is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

A Magistrate

Rigaud Hyacinthe , 1709

A Magistrate is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Rigaud Hyacinthe. It dates from 1709 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.

About this work

Overview

Hyacinthe Rigaud’s portrait known as *A Magistrate* dates to roughly 1709. Executed in oil on canvas, the work presents a dignified male figure against a muted backdrop, his attire dominated by a voluminous, curled wig and a stark white collar edged with a black ribbon. The painting belongs to the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, rendered with a solemn expression, embodies the authority associated with judicial or administrative office in early‑18th‑century France. The prominence given to his wig—a fashionable symbol of status—along with the crisp collar underscores his elevated social rank and the formal gravity of his role.

Technique & Style

Rigaud employs a smooth handling of paint for the facial features and the intricate folds of the wig, while the collar exhibits a slightly more textured application, creating subtle contrast. Though Rigaud is often linked to the Baroque, this portrait reflects the lighter, decorative tendencies of the emerging Rococo aesthetic.

History & Provenance

Created around 1709, the painting entered the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it remains on view. Its provenance traces back to private collections of French aristocracy before being acquired by the museum, illustrating the work’s continued relevance as a document of early‑modern French portraiture.

Artist & collection

Artist

Rigaud Hyacinthe

Jacint Rigau-Ros i Serra (Catalan pronunciation: ; 18 July 1659 – 29 December 1743), known in French as Hyacinthe Rigaud (pronounced ), was a Catalan-French baroque painter most famous for his portraits of Louis XIV and other members of…