Large Portrait Of An Elegant Woman, Signed Emmanuel Barcay, 1897

The painting is dated 1897, as indicated by the visible signature and date: Emmanuel Barcay, 1897.
It belongs to the second half of the 19th century, a period marked by refined academic portraiture combined with a growing attention to texture, surface, and decorative richness.

The work depicts a red-haired elegant woman, shown full-length in a composed yet natural pose. She wears a light evening dress enriched with lace and embroidered decoration, complemented by a fur stole draped over her shoulder.
The background consists of softly rendered drapery, creating a restrained setting that enhances the figure’s presence. A side table with a bouquet of flowers introduces a domestic and intimate note typical of late 19th-century society portraiture.

The artist demonstrates careful attention to material effects:
– delicate modelling of the flesh tones through layered glazes,
– finely executed lace and embroidery using subtle impasto,
– fluid and nuanced handling of the fur,
– precise rendering of jewellery, including a ring, brooch, and choker necklace.

These elements reflect a high level of technical skill and a decorative sensibility characteristic of the period.

Oil on canvas, stretched on its original wooden stretcher.
The paint surface remains coherent and stable, showing a natural patina consistent with its age, without significant structural issues.

The painting is housed in its original late 19th-century carved and gilded wooden frame, richly decorated with floral garlands, ribbon motifs, and twisted mouldings, topped by an elaborate ribbon crest.
This frame forms an integral part of the presentation and reinforces the work’s decorative and historical value.

This portrait belongs to the tradition of French late 19th-century society portraiture, comparable in spirit to works exhibited at contemporary Salons, where elegance, social status, and refined execution were paramount.

• Canvas size: 140 × 90 cm

• Framed size: 171 × 123 cm

• Total height including crest: 183 cm