Portrait of François Tronchin

Liotard, the great pastelist, emphasized colours. Apart from several pale, light-coloured works dominated by shades of white, we also find in his oeuvre some 'folkloric' Turkish scenes and portraits in which a strong and richly contrasted colouring is created by adding extra pigmentation to the chalks. He bans shadow from his work.

This pastel drawing depicts François Tronchin, a prominent figure in his native Geneva and an impassioned patron of the arts. The table before Tronchin features a book, mathematical instruments, and papers that indicate his interests in architecture and music. Rembrandt's Lady in Bed, a painting that the Dutch master created around 1648 (today in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery) and the most highly prized painting in Tronchin's collection, rests on an easel nearby.

Liotard considered the portrait of Tronchin among his finest works, and the meticulous rendering of the sitter's powdered wig, transparent flesh, and lace cuffs suggest the skill he had developed in pastel at this time.