Artist: After Jean-Marc Nattier. Monogrammed and attributed verso to Linda Hughes 1999
Title: "Manon Balletti" Reproduction
Medium: Oil on canvas
Edition: Reproduction
Artwork Dimensions: 52cm x 63cm (20.5" x 25")
Frame Dimensions: 67cm x 78cm (26" x 30.5")
Condition: Image: Good. Frame: Good
About the artwork
This elegant portrait of Maria Maddalena Balletti, known as Manon Balletti, is a finely executed reproduction after Jean-Marc Nattier’s celebrated 1757 original. Capturing the grace and theatrical charm of the Venetian actress and fiancée of Giacomo Casanova, the sitter is adorned in a sumptuous gown of blue and rose tones, accented with lace, pearls, and a delicate pink rose at the bodice. Her powdered blue coiffure and sheer striped veil evoke the refined aesthetics of the Rococo era, while the dark background enhances the luminosity of her complexion and costume. This work pays homage to Nattier’s mastery of portraiture, blending aristocratic poise with romantic allure.
About Jean-Marc Nattier
Jean-Marc Nattier (1685–1766) was a leading French Rococo portraitist, renowned for his elegant depictions of women in mythological guise. His refined style and theatrical compositions made him a favourite at the court of Louis XV.
Born in Paris to a family of artists, Nattier trained under his father Marc Nattier and his uncle Jean Jouvenet, a history painter. He enrolled in the Royal Academy in 1703 and gained early recognition for his engravings and copies of Rubens’ Marie de’ Medici cycle. Nattier’s fame soared with his portraits of court ladies dressed as goddesses or allegorical figures—transforming sitters into Hebe, Diana, or Venus with pastel-like delicacy and idealized grace. His work is less concerned with psychological depth than with surface beauty and aristocratic poise, often described as “painting with make-up” for its soft, cosmetic finish
