Vincenzo Caprile, “female Portrait,” Pastel On Paper, 1897

Vincenzo Caprile, “Female Portrait,” pastel on paper, 1897

Vincenzo Caprile (1856–1936)

Portrait of a young woman in a red dress

Pastel on paper, 1897

Signed lower left and dated

Dimensions: 63.5 × 43.5 cm (without frame); framed 111 × 85 cm

The portrait depicts a young woman in half-length, captured in three-quarter view with her gaze turned slightly to the right. The figure wears a bright red dress, which gives the image a strong chromatic impact and highlights her fair complexion and delicate facial features. Her hair, gathered naturally, frames her face with soft shadows, enhanced by the pastel technique.

The simple pose and absorbed expression convey a sense of intimacy and naturalness, typical characteristics of Caprile's portraiture, which combines precision of drawing with a vibrant and luminous painterly touch.

The work is presented in a contemporary wooden frame, richly carved with floral and foliage motifs in the Baroque style, which enhances its importance and aesthetic value.

Caprile, who trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Naples, was particularly appreciated as a portraitist and for his scenes of Neapolitan popular life. This work is part of his search for an intimate and immediate style of painting, capable of capturing the soul of the subject through color and light.