Portrait of a Man (formerly called Stanislaus II Augustus, King of Poland)

This fine miniature was donated to the Gallery in the belief that it represented Stanislaus II Augustus, the King of Poland for whom Desenfans and Bourgeois put together the collection which was to become the core of Dulwich Picture Gallery. However, the sitter's casual posture, shrewd expression, piercing blue eyes, long Bob Hope nose, balding pate, unpowdered hair, and plain garb seem light years away from the brown-eyed, roman-nosed, bewigged and formal state portraits of King Stanislaus. Whoever the sitter is, this is an exceptionally sensitive and attractive miniature, probably painted by a French artist in the late 18th century.