This portrait within a portrait is found quite often in the context of French seventeenth century painting. The treatment of the figure, especially the sleeves, is reminiscent of the artist’s most famous portrait, the Homme aux rubans noirs in the Musée Fabre, Montpellier, which is usually dated in the late 1650s. The portrait held by the sitter seems to be of a slightly earlier generation.  The sitter is shown in costume which suggests a date in the 1660s, and Bourdon’s familiar hand can be seen in the background landscape.

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