C.-j. Brochart, “the Young Horsewoman” And “the Girl With The Hat,” France, Circa 1870

Signed C^tBrochart

Height : 45 cm (17,7 in.) ; Width : 31,5 cm (12,4 in.)
With frame – Height : 74 cm (29,1 in.) ; Width : 56 cm (22 in.)

This charming pair of pastels forms a perfect pair and brilliantly illustrates the talent of Constant Joseph Brochart, a 19th-century portraitist. A specialist in ethereal, idealized female figures, the artist here embraces the Neo-Rococo style that so fascinated the bourgeoisie of the Second Empire, drawing inspiration from the elegance of the age of Watteau and Fragonard.

“The Young Horsewoman,” depicted in a three-quarter view, casts a gentle yet confident glance at the viewer. She is dressed in an elegant, whimsical ensemble consisting of a white satin jacket with silvery sheen, cinched at the waist with a wide coral-colored sash. The voluminous lace ruff, reminiscent of the 17th century, and the gray felt hat, adorned with ostrich feathers, frame her porcelain-complexioned face. She delicately holds a riding crop in her right hand, adding a touch of playfulness to the composition.

Echoing the first piece perfectly, “The Girl with the Hat” features a young woman in an 18th-century-inspired outfit. She wears a sumptuous blue dress, richly embroidered with gold motifs and accented by abundant ruffles of lace at the cuffs. Her innocent face is accentuated by a charming woven straw hat adorned with a garland of fresh roses. The treatment of the fabrics is remarkable, playing on the transparency of the muslin and the weightiness of the embroidered silk. She holds a small dog in her arms, adding to her air of purity.

With this pair of portraits, Brochart demonstrates his mastery of the pastel technique, his medium of choice for capturing the softness of the skin and the fluidity of fabrics. The skillfully directed light caresses the faces of these two elegant women, bringing out the vibrancy of the colors.

Biography :
Constant Joseph Brochart was born in 1816 in Pecq, in the province of Hainaut, and died in 1899 in Paris. Student at the Beaux-Art in Lille, where he won a first-class medal in 1837, he exhibited at the Salon from 1845 to 1862. Considered the driving force behind the revival of pastel painting in France by the Journal des Artistes (May 14, 1899), he specialized in portraits of elegant ladies, which brought him fame.