Lot 97: Jean Chevalier (Paris c. 1725-c.1790)

Jean Chevalier (Paris c. 1725-c.1790)
Portrait of an elegant lady and her daughter, three-quarter-length, drinking hot chocolate
signed and dated 'chevallier . pinxit . x brc . 1755.' (lower left)
oil on canvas
91.6 x 73 cm.

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, Amsterdam, 5 November 2002, lot 335.

Christie’s charges a premium to the buyer on the Hammer Price of each lot sold at the following rates: 29.75% of the Hammer Price of each lot up to and including €20,000, plus 23.8% of the Hammer Price between €20,001 and €800.000, plus 14.28% of any amount in excess of €800.000. Buyer’s premium is calculated on the basis of each lot individually.
In 18th century France drinking hot chocolate was a pleasure strictly reserved to the aristocracy. Chevalier is known to have worked for the nobility, such as the Duke of Neufville-Villeroy and the archbishop Joseph Languet. Otherwise little is known about this French artist. He was a pupil of Jean Raoux (1677-1734), who is known to have painted portraits as well for the higher society.