No, this is not an image created by artificial intelligence, although one would be forgiven to think so at first. Instead, it’s a study of hands by the French painter Nicolas de Largillière (see below). It’s a well-known fact that hands one of the hardest things to draw (which is why it’s so amusing that AI appears to struggle so much with them as well), but Largillière was a master at them.
Largièlle is the kind of painter we don’t remember today simply because the need for painters like him has disappeared. He was a very popular draughtsman who painted portraits on commission for the rich and famous. Whilst highly accomplished in their own right, they don’t speak to us today. Except, of course, for their hands. Those lovely hands that somehow steal the show.
Consider, for example this luscious military of a 35 year old captain known as André François Alloys de Theys d'Herculai. It’s beautiful no doubt, but also a bit ridiculous. The fire, the velvet, the silk, the cherub cheeks, it’s all a bit much.
But that right hand. It even seems to have its own spotlight. This isn’t a portrait of a hand, it’s a portrait of a hand. See how the knuckles grip the helmet (most likely a prop, as Spain was heavily romanticized at the time), and how the left be gloved hand holds the other glove as if he’s just stripped his other hand naked. I think it’s fair to say that if there ever was a hand fetishist, delillière would be one.
If you want to see some more of Delillière’s hands, I’ve added some close-ups below.
Beautiful, aren’t they, those hands?
Julian
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Please excuse the manifold typos and especially the butchering of Largillière’s name, which -as I’ve just realized- gets increasingly worse as the post continues.
My battles with autocorrect and spelling continue, especially as Jenaline is away visiting with family for a week. I promise to check tomorrow’s post more carefully. It’s inexcusable. Thank you for your time, and I hope it doesn’t ruin your enjoyment of these very lovely hands.
Julian
These hands are exquisite and are the true focal point of these masterpieces! Graceful and full of expression!