André François Alloys de Theys d'Herculais (1692–1779)

Nicolas de Largilliere's portrait of Andre Francois Alloys de Theys d'Herculais, painted in 1727, depicts a member of the French provincial nobility during the Regency period. Largilliere was the leading portrait painter in Paris, rivaling Hyacinthe Rigaud for the patronage of the French elite. While Rigaud specialized in the most formal court portraits, Largilliere's style was somewhat more relaxed and natural, making him the preferred painter of the wealthy Parisian bourgeoisie and provincial aristocracy.

Largilliere's oil-on-canvas technique demonstrates his mastery of the grand French portrait format, with rich, warm color and fluid, confident brushwork. The costume is rendered with particular skill, the silk and lace painted with the material brilliance that distinguished French Baroque portraiture.