Portrait Of A Dandy – Restoration Period, Circa 1820

Portrait of a Dandy – Restoration Period, circa 1820. Oil on canvas, oval format, in an antique giltwood frame with some losses around the edges. A charming portrait of an elegantly dressed young man, typical of the romantic dandy of the early 19th century. Painted around 1820 during the Restoration period, the work perfectly illustrates the refined aesthetic and understated elegance characteristic of this era. The sitter is depicted half-length, turned slightly to the left, his gaze gentle yet confident. His delicately modeled face reveals a light, subtly rosy complexion, expressive hazel eyes, and carefully styled brown hair with sideburns characteristic of men's fashion in the 1820s. He wears a dark, sober, and fitted frock coat over a discreet waistcoat, enhanced by a tall, elegantly tied white cravat, an emblematic element of masculine refinement of the period. The work as a whole demonstrates meticulous attention to detail and careful observation of the dress codes of the cultivated bourgeoisie. The background, rendered in nuanced deep green tones, enhances the skin tone and lends the composition a hushed and intimate atmosphere. The brushwork is fine and smooth, with careful rendering of flesh and fabrics, revealing a skilled hand from a French or European workshop of the first third of the 19th century. The portrait is presented in its antique oval frame of giltwood with a wide molding, which elegantly underscores the composition and reinforces its decorative character. The reverse reveals an old mount with reinforcing crossbars, attesting to its considerable age. A captivating work, both decorative and historically evocative, ideal for a classic interior, a collector's cabinet, or a collection devoted to Romanticism and portraiture. The painting measures 67 cm x 61 cm. The canvas measures 52 cm x 45 cm.