French School, 19th Century – Pair Of Portraits Of Young Women, Dated 1840

French School,
19th Century
Young Women at the Piano and Bust Portrait.
Pencil and wash on paper.
Dated May 1840.

Image size: 24 x 20 cm.
Framed size: 37 x 33 cm.

An elegant pair of female portraits executed in pencil and wash, depicting two young women from the educated bourgeoisie during the July Monarchy. One portrait shows a young woman seated at the piano, an open musical score before her, an emblematic motif of musical culture and female education in the early 19th century. The other is a bust portrait, treated with the same finesse and sensitivity, suggesting an intentional pairing.
The drawing is distinguished by the softness of the modeling, the subtlety of the expressions, and the attention paid to hairstyles and costumes, characteristic of French Romanticism around 1840. Both works are preserved in their original giltwood frames, finely carved with scrolls and floral motifs, perfectly consistent with the period.
A highly elegant decorative and historical ensemble, typical of 19th-century French production, ideal for a classic interior or a collection of romantic drawings. The papers show slight stains and wear consistent with age, without affecting the legibility or harmony of the compositions. The antique frames display a regular and authentic patina.