Charles Baziray

About the Painting

This exceptional 1747 oil portrait by Charles Baziray depicts an unidentified magistrate and adviser to the Parliament of Brittany, captured with the dignity and gravitas befitting his elevated position. The subject is presented in traditional French aristocratic attire, his white-gloved hands elegantly holding a black tricorn hat—symbols of his high status and judicial authority within the French Old Regime.

The composition exemplifies French Baroque portraiture at its finest, with careful attention to costume detail, refined color palette, and the subject's commanding yet composed presence. The magistrate's direct gaze and formal pose convey both the power of his office and the sophisticated aesthetic sensibilities of mid-18th century French aristocratic portraiture.

Historical Context

Under France's Old Regime, regional parliaments such as the Parliament of Brittany wielded considerable power, handling matters of public order, royal legislation, financial administration, and serving as presidial courts of appeal. Magistrates and advisers to these parliaments represented the highest echelons of provincial society, often drawn from noble families with generations of legal and administrative service.

This portrait represents not merely an individual, but an entire class of legal and administrative elite who shaped French governance during the Regency and early reign of Louis XV.

Artist Background

Charles Baziray (c.1690-1757) was a distinguished French portrait painter, student or follower of the renowned Nicolas de Largillière. Born in Paris around 1690, Baziray worked as a painter from 1707 to 1713 at the prestigious Manufacture Royale des Gobelins under the direction of Pierre Mathieu, the King's painter.

From 1718, Baziray relocated to Brittany, establishing himself in Nantes, Rennes, and Saint-Malo, where he gained considerable renown among the region's high society and received numerous portrait commissions from aristocratic and parliamentary families. Married in 1726 to Anne Penet, daughter of the Lord of La Pallière, Baziray died on January 29, 1757 at the Château de Rosanbo, property of the influential Le Peletier family. He is buried in the Lanvellec parish church near the castle.

Condition and Provenance

This oil on canvas has undergone professional conservation. During cleaning, the artist's signature and date were discovered on the reverse: "Baziray pinxit 1747". The painting is presented in its magnificent original gilded wood and plaster frame from the French Regency-Louis XV period, also professionally restored to excellent condition.

Technical Details

Artist: Charles Baziray (c.1690-1757)
Signed: Verso, "Baziray Pinxit 1747"
Medium: Oil on canvas
Condition: Very good condition, professionally restored
Dimensions: 82.5 x 65 cm / 32½ x 25½ in
Frame: 102 x 86 cm / 40 x 34 in, ornate gilded wood and plaster frame (French Regency-Louis XV period), excellent condition
Provenance: France

Contact us for additional provenance documentation or condition reports.

New to collecting French portraits? Read our complete guide to buying your first French portrait painting.