Portrait Of A Girl In Red – Signed And Dated 1897 –
53 x 58 cm with frame
This remarkable portrait of a child depicts a young girl identified by a rather touching old inscription as “Louisette, age 5 ,” who was likely five years old when the painting was created.
From the very first glance, the painting captivates with the model’s extraordinary presence. The artist did not merely reproduce the child’s features faithfully; he captured, with rare sensitivity, the full psychological complexity of childhood. The deep gaze, at once questioning and slightly melancholic, lends this portrait an uncommon intensity.
The quality of the execution attests to the hand of a particularly accomplished portraitist. The drawing is precise without being stiff, the skin tones are rendered with subtlety, and the transitions of light reveal a perfect mastery of painting technique. The dark curls framing the face are rendered with a free, fluid touch, while the contrast between the bright red dress and the nuanced brown background beautifully highlights the child’s features.
One is struck by the accuracy of the observation and by the artist’s ability to capture the model’s personality. This psychological depth, rarely found in late 19th-century portraits of children, places this work among the finest academic portraitists of its time.
The balance of the composition, the simplicity of the setting, and the excellence of the facial rendering focus all attention on the child’s expression, the true emotional center of the painting.
The work is signed and dated 1897 in the upper right corner. The artist’s identity remains difficult to identify. However, due to the quality of its execution and the power of its presence, this portrait goes far beyond a simple family keepsake to stand out as a true work of portraiture, revealing the talent of an artist particularly gifted in depicting childhood.
Recent gilded wood frame in 19th-century style
This remarkable portrait of a child depicts a young girl identified by a rather touching old inscription as “Louisette, age 5 ,” who was likely five years old when the painting was created.
From the very first glance, the painting captivates with the model’s extraordinary presence. The artist did not merely reproduce the child’s features faithfully; he captured, with rare sensitivity, the full psychological complexity of childhood. The deep gaze, at once questioning and slightly melancholic, lends this portrait an uncommon intensity.
The quality of the execution attests to the hand of a particularly accomplished portraitist. The drawing is precise without being stiff, the skin tones are rendered with subtlety, and the transitions of light reveal a perfect mastery of painting technique. The dark curls framing the face are rendered with a free, fluid touch, while the contrast between the bright red dress and the nuanced brown background beautifully highlights the child’s features.
One is struck by the accuracy of the observation and by the artist’s ability to capture the model’s personality. This psychological depth, rarely found in late 19th-century portraits of children, places this work among the finest academic portraitists of its time.
The balance of the composition, the simplicity of the setting, and the excellence of the facial rendering focus all attention on the child’s expression, the true emotional center of the painting.
The work is signed and dated 1897 in the upper right corner. The artist’s identity remains difficult to identify. However, due to the quality of its execution and the power of its presence, this portrait goes far beyond a simple family keepsake to stand out as a true work of portraiture, revealing the talent of an artist particularly gifted in depicting childhood.
Recent gilded wood frame in 19th-century style
950 €
Period: 19th century
Style: Napoleon 3rd
Condition: Good condition
Material: Oil painting
Reference (ID): 1778433
Availability: In stock
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