Portrait Of A Young Woman In Profile - French Neoclassical School, C. 1800–1830

Portrait of a Young Woman in Profile — French Neoclassical School, circa 1800–1830

An elegant portrait of a young woman depicted in bust format and in strict profile, a pose of great purity directly inspired by the cameos and medals of Roman antiquity, a hallmark of the Directoire and First Empire periods. The face, with its delicate features, is highlighted by a soft, rosy complexion and an “antique-style” hairstyle, in which the hair is pulled up into a high bun, allowing light, natural curls to fall across the forehead. Her hair is adorned with a delicate palmette-shaped comb made of tortoiseshell or carnelian, typical of the fashion of the Merveilleuses. She wears a delicate dangling earring topped with a teardrop-shaped pearl. Her draped white gauze garment gracefully mimics Roman tunics. The dark, neutrally brushed background is characteristic of studio works from this period
(the circle of David, Girodet, Prud’hon), masterfully casting light onto the model.

Condition:
The work is in exceptional condition, “in its original state” and having never been re-stretched, allowing the fine grain and weave of the original canvas to show through. This surface wear on the paint layer, far from detracting from the work’s charm, attests to its authenticity. The original linen canvas is stretched over its fixed period stretcher frame with mortise and tenon joints (without keys), secured by its original forged nails.
Historical inscriptions on the reverse:
The stretcher bears an old handwritten inscription in black ink: “Painted by....” The frame bears a second old inventory annotation in chalk: “J. Davidas” as well as an octagonal collection or auction label with a blue border, numbered R. 1253 / 1500.
Presented in its substantial blackened wooden frame with an inverted profile and gilded Marie-Louise molding. ” .
Dimensions:
height 46 x width 32.5 cm without frame
height 63.5 x 50.5 cm with frame