Lot 46: JEAN-FRANÇOIS DE SOMPSOIS (FRENCH, FL. 1755-1797)

JEAN-FRANÇOIS DE SOMPSOIS (FRENCH, FL. 1755-1797)
A lady, possibly a member of the Russian court, in white dress, blue fur-bordered cloak, black frilled choker, her powdered upswept hair decorated with falling white muslin scarf with blue stripes, her left arm resting on the base of a column, a black loup in her right hand; a draped brown curtain in the background
on parchment laid down on card
rectangular, 2 1/16 x 2 7/8 in. (52 x 73 mm.), gilt-metal mount

According to Neil Jeffares, Dictionary of pastellists before 1800, London, online edition, 12 March 2010, verbo Sompsois, p. 1, Jean-François de Sompsois was in St Petersburg by 1755, possibly from as early as 1751. In 1756 he was commissioned by Prince Pyotr Feodorovich and his wife, the future empress Catherine II, to execute portraits of the ladies-in-waiting at court. It is possible that the present miniature was painted at that time.