So-called Diderot by Fragonard - RF 1972-14

So-Called Portrait of Diderot (c. 1769), in the Louvre, is one of the most debated of Fragonard's fantasy portraits, traditionally but questionably identified as the philosopher Denis Diderot. The bold, sweeping brushwork and dramatic costume create one of the most dynamic images in the series, the figure seeming to burst with intellectual energy. Whether or not the sitter is actually Diderot, the portrait captures the vitality and confidence of Enlightenment intellectual culture. Fragonard's fantasy portraits collectively form one of the most remarkable series in eighteenth-century art, their technical virtuosity unmatched by any contemporary painter.

The figure turns with animated energy, the costume built up in bold impasto strokes that create a sense of spontaneous movement. The entire painting radiates the confidence of an artist at the height of his powers.