Portrait Of An Elegant 18-year-old

Portrait of an Elegant Woman with a Floral Hairstyle
– Louis XVI Period, Late 18th Century. This charming and unique portrait of a young elegant woman, painted at the end of the 18th century during the reign of Louis XVI, immediately captivates with the gentleness of its expression and the unusual nature of its composition. The young woman is depicted in half-length, wearing a blue dress adorned with a large white bow and delicate lace, typical of women's fashion in the 1770s and 1780s. Her finely modeled face, with its fresh, rosy complexion, exudes a graceful calm and great delicacy. The elaborate hairstyle, surmounted by an arrangement of flowers and foliage, lends the portrait a truly distinctive character. This type of ornamentation, more ceremonial than everyday, likely evokes a specific event—a celebration, ceremony, or formal portrait—and reflects the late 18th-century fascination with spectacular hairstyles and floral motifs. The brushwork is precise and sensitive, with meticulous attention to textile details and the interplay of textures, while the dark background elegantly highlights the sitter's face and figure. The painting has been restored in a specialized workshop, respecting the original materials, allowing for a harmonious and balanced appreciation of the work while preserving its patina and authenticity. A portrait full of charm and mystery, representative of the taste and elegance of French society on the eve of the Revolution, it is ideal for a refined interior or a collection with an appreciation for 18th-century painting.