The twin brother of Jean-Etienne Liotard, much less is known about his career, but he was active mainly as an engraver and draughtsman and his style resembles that of his better-known brother. The current work, Jean-Michel’s only known pastel, is a copy of a painting by the earlier French artist Jean-Baptiste Santerre (1651-1717) of which numerous versions exist, as well as a print by Claude Bricart. Jean-Michel Liotard also executed a drawing of this composition, signed and dated 1762 (whereabouts unknown).