From time to time Fragonard wrote ordinary portraits, he created and several self-portraits. However, the most famous were his portraits, fantasies, or “imaginary portraits,” most of which appeared around 1769. In total about fifteen “fantasies” are known, while eight of them are kept in the Louvre.
The characters of “imaginary portraits” are depicted by the artist in exotic, almost theatrical costumes, surrounded by colorful details, almost always – against the background of elegant stone balustrades. Some of them are easily recognizable – as, for example, the patron of Fragonard Saint-Non. In another picture, labeled, like the portrait of Saint-Non, in 1769, the older brother of Saint-Non, Louis Ricard de La Bretes is depicted. The label says that the picture is written “for one hour”. All this series of paintings vividly testifies to Fragonard’s highest skill and his ability to write not only easily and beautifully, but also very quickly. Unfortunately, we can not say whether these portraits were custom-made or the artist created them, obeying only their own whims.
Painting of the French painter Jean Honore Fragonard “Portrait of a Musician”. The size of the portrait is 80 x 65 cm, canvas, oil. The painting has another simple name “Music” and is also included in the series “Fantastic figures”, and in the image of a musician the artist portrayed Monsignor de la Bretes. Portraits of the series “Fantastic figures” are written with dynamic broad strokes, and the interest in solving the dynamic surface dominates in them over the psychological depth of the interpretation of images inspired by classical painting.
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