Title: Countess Potocki
Artist: Alexander Kucharski (After)
Medium: Pastel
Dimensions: 43 × 30 cm
Condition Report: Worn in the corners of the paper

Description:

The portrait titled "Countess Potocki" by Alexander Kucharski (After) is a delicate and refined artwork rendered in pastel. The model, Countess Potocki, is depicted with a calm, contemplative gaze, slightly looking out of the frame. The artist has used soft, warm hues to bring a gentle elegance to the countess's features, creating a harmonious balance against the darker background of green ochre hues.

The background’s darker tones contrast beautifully with the softer, pastel shades of the model, enhancing the depth and focus of the composition. The part of the countess's garments visible in the portrait includes a white drapery element, adding texture and a flowing, graceful quality to the piece. A red flower adorns her ensemble, mirroring the hues of her lips and bringing a touch of vibrancy to the otherwise subdued palette. A sensibly nuanced blue is incorporated to anchor the composition, providing a subtle yet effective contrast to the warm hues.

The portrait’s overall effect is one of quiet elegance and timeless beauty, capturing the essence of Countess Potocki with a serene and contemplative mood.

About the Artist:

Alexander Kucharsky (18 March 1741 – 5 November 1819), also known as Alexandre Kucharsky, was a Polish portrait painter who spent most of his life in France. Born in Warsaw, Kucharsky was initially a page to King Stanisław II Augustus, the last elected ruler of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. He trained as an artist in Warsaw under the famous painter Marcello Bacciarelli, and later continued his studies in Paris under Joseph-Marie Vien and Carle van Loo at the Académie Royale from 1760 to 1769.

Despite the Polish king's desire for Kucharsky to become a historical painter, he chose to specialize in portraits, which led to the loss of the king's patronage. From 1776 to 1778, Kucharsky served the Princes de Condé. He was known for his half-length portraits in pastels and oils, and sometimes worked in gouache and miniatures. His clientele primarily consisted of French and Polish aristocracy, with many Polish nobles residing in France due to the alliance between King Louis XV and Marie Leszczyńska.

After Élisabeth-Louise Vigée-Le Brun left the French court in 1789, Kucharsky became the painter to Queen Marie-Antoinette, producing portraits of her, the royal children, and notable figures such as Marie-Louise, princesse de Lamballe, and Catherine the Great of Russia. Kucharsky's allegiance remained with the ancien régime during the French Revolution, and in retirement, he lived near Paris at Sainte-Périne on a pension granted by Louis XVIII. He died in Paris.

Kucharsky's works, especially his portraits of the French royal family, remain significant today, with notable pieces like his 1793 portrait of Marie Antoinette.