Portrait Of A Young Girl With A Red Bird Pastel Under Glass, Circa 1800

Pastel under glass, circa 1800

Dimensions: 73 × 56.5 cm (including frame)

Charming portrait of a young girl executed around 1800, depicting the sitter with abundant brown curls and dressed in a white and brown gown in the taste of the late eighteenth century.

The young girl is shown half-length, her hands gently folded around a small red bird nestled against her chest. Beside her stands an elegant blue vase with gilt mounts resting on a table draped in red fabric. These carefully chosen elements enliven the composition while allowing the sitter's presence to remain at its centre.

Particular attention has been paid to the expression of the face, whose calm and slightly contemplative gaze forms the true focal point of the work. The delicate flesh tones, finely rendered curls and subtle treatment of the fabrics reveal a sensitive and accomplished hand.

The use of pastel is especially effective here. This medium lends itself beautifully to the vibrant palette chosen by the artist. The brilliant red of the bird, the deep blue of the vase and the warm tones of the hair retain remarkable freshness. Far from being merely decorative details, these accents bring depth, rhythm and a sense of joy to the composition while enhancing the presence of the young sitter.

The work is presented under glass in an attractive antique giltwood frame. The frame has been preventively treated against wood-boring insects. The original mounting consists of a canvas stretched over an eighteenth-century stretcher, preserved with the artwork.

Condition: overall very good condition. A few minor old marks and surface abrasions are visible in places on the pastel, without significant impact on the overall presentation of the work.

The small red bird carefully protected against the child's chest brings an immediate sense of tenderness to the scene. Far removed from formal or worldly portraiture, this is an intimate image built around a simple idea: gentleness and care for a fragile living creature.

We also greatly appreciate the balance of the composition. The dark background highlights the luminous complexion of the young sitter, while the blue of the vase, the red of the drapery and the bird provide subtle accents of colour without ever distracting from the child's gaze.

More than two centuries after its creation, the work still possesses what makes the finest children's portraits so compelling: a quiet presence that immediately draws the viewer in.