26 - 18th-century French school, workshop of Jacques Autreau

18th-century French school, workshop of Jacques Autreau Piron at the table with his friends Vadé and Collé Oval canvas mounted in a rectangular frame Height: 59 cm Width: 72 cm Unframed Historical restorations The poet Alexis Piron (1689–1773), an enemy of Voltaire and known for his comic operas, is depicted at the table with his friends Jean-Joseph Vadé (1720–1757), a pioneer of the Poissard style, and Charles Collé (1709–1783), the official supplier of entertainment for the Duke of Orléans. Another version of this painting is housed at the Louvre Museum (RF 2440) and has been linked to the work depicting Fontenelle, La Motte, and Saurin (or Danchet) at Madame de Tencin’s, housed at the Palace of Versailles (MV 5573), whose compositions are very similar [1]. A third version, attributed to Etienne Jeaurat, was sold in Paris at the Hotel Georges V by Mes Couturier Nicolay on March 12, 1974, lot no. 27. Another was offered for sale at ID facto on July 3, 2026 (attributed to Autreau). [1] Sahut, Marie-Catherine, “Painting of the Month No. 32: The Wine Drinkers by Jacques Autreau: A New Attribution,” Painting of the Month, December 4–30, 1996. Appraiser: Cabinet Turquin. Tel.: 01.47.03.48.78