Caroline Swagers Painter. 1835 . Portrait Of An Elegant Young Woman

Under the Restoration, the professional practice of painting still obeyed the customs of the ancien régime.
In fact, it was not uncommon, or even de rigueur, for the children of a famous painter to become artists themselves.
All the descendants of Frans Swagers ( 1756 - 1836 ) made a career of it.
However, it was rare for the daughter, even if she had received a solid pictorial education at home, to continue after marriage.
Caroline Swagers ( 1808 - 1877 ) is one of these exceptions.
Received at the Salon in 1831, she exhibited there until 1848, virtually the entire reign of Louis Philippe.
This portrait, bearing a cartel dated 1835, was certainly exhibited at the Salon this year, and depicts her as an elegant young girl, with generous cleavage, dressed in a light white chiffon gown, wearing a cashmere wrap around her arms, and a very elaborate hairstyle done with an iron.
She seems to be observing something or someone arriving from the side, as if surprised with a precious box in her hand..
The contrast between the orange shawl and the white dress is ravishing, the sweet face and opulent bosom must not have left the young lions at Tortoni's unmoved...
We have had the old restoration cleaned and redone.
The frame and cartel are original.