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Attributed to Pierre Dumonstier (French, ca. 1545-1610), "Portrait of Melchior des Pres, Sieur de Montpezat (ca. 1522/23-1572)", ca. 1560, graphite on paper, titled "M. de Montpesat" lower margin, "Arthur Davidson Ltd, London" label en verso, sight 11-3/4" x 6-5/8". In an elaborate period giltwood frame. Provenance: Collection of Robert Treat Paine II, Boston; thence by descent to his son Richard; Arthur Davidson Ltd., London, February 1, 1990; The Flatt Collection. Melchior des Pres, Sieur de Montpesat, was a prominent nobleman with an impressive military career. He was the Viscount of Castillon, and his wife Henriette de Savoie, the Marquise of Villars and Countess of Tende, was a lady of the court of Catherine de Medici. Sieur de Montpesat was Captain of the Chevaux-Legers, Governor of Chatellerault, and served in the Italian wars (1551-1559). During the latter, he was recognized for his assistance in the capture of Calais from the English, and then later for his bravery after he was wounded in the battle of Saint-Denis in 1567. Pierre Dumonstier, the artist, also came from an illustrious family. At least eleven artists from the Dumonstier name served the French court during the 16th/17th century. Pierre was a skilled portrait draughtsman, often commissioned to depict French nobility under the reign of Henry II, and then under Catherine de Medici as regent Queen. The color detail of the sitter's face and piercing eyes, offset by the esquisse-style bust in 3/4 profile, is prototypical of Dumonstier's portraits. A fine example of this is Dumonstier's other color pencil portrait of Montpesat in a plumed hat, ca. 1565, now conserved at the National Library of France. References: Du Tillet, Jean. Recveil des Roys de France Levrs Covronne. Chez Iaques du Puys, 1586, p. 280; Bouchot, Henri. Les Portraits aux Crayons des XVI et XVII Siecles Conserve a Bibliotheque Nationale. Paris: H. Oudin, 1884, p. 217.