Cercle De Carolus-duran - Portrait Of A Belle époque French Woman, C. 1880-1900

Elegant French Belle Époque lady portrait - Oil on canvas, circa 1880-1900, Carolus-Duran circle

A magnificent late 19th-century oil portrait, imbued with atmosphere, depicting an elegant woman dressed in black lace lace and a gemstone necklace, against a warm, rich red background. red background. The painting has a remarkable pictorial quality, with a particularly freeparticularly free and confident treatment of the hair, lace sleeves and dress details.

This portrait strongly recalls the fashionable style of Parisian salons,associated with Carolus-Duran's circle and the portraits of societyFrench society of the Belle Époque.

The painting has recently undergone professional cleaning, revealing subtle nuances and fine brushstrokes beneath the old varnish. It is presented in a large antique neo-rococo frame, carefully restored, but retaining its aged, authentic look, rather than being overlaid with new gilding.

Interesting suggest that the work was originally part of a larger portrait and was reduced in size at anindeterminate period. The current stretchers appear to be original, but have themselves been resized. The trace of an old stretcher bar through the paint, and the marks of the strutsmarks remain on the frame structure at the back.

The painting was acquired from Bonhams in the UK nearly twenty years ago and was already framed in its current antique frame at that time.

An evocative evocative and decorative portrait from the late 19th century, imbued with an authentic period character and strong pictorial presence.