Oil On Panel - Signed Alix-louise Enault - XIXth

Sublime oil on panel by Alix-Louise Enault, representing a young woman with a pearl necklace and brown hair held back by an arrow (reference to the work of Francisco de Goya, "Portrait of the Spanish Queen Marie-Louise de Bourbon -Parme (1751 - 1819) ”, around 1800).

The wooden frame sublimating this work, richly adorned with oak leaves and acorns, has been completely restored and gilded, as originally, with gold leaf.
Each acorn has been meticulously polished giving shine to the imposing framework of the frame and light to the painting.

Period: XIXth century - Circa: 1895
Measures: H: 55.5 x W: 41 cm (canvas with frame) - H: 21.9 x L: 16.1cm (canvas only)
Signed: Top right

Alix Marie Bardin was born in Cherbourg on November 1, 1846. She practiced painting under the pseudonym of Melle Alix Duval at the start of her career. After her marriage to Louis Enault (1824-1900), writer and critic at the Paris Salon, she then became known under the name of Alix-Louise Enault or quite simply Ms. Louis Enault.

A pupil of Jean-Baptiste-Ange Tissier and Florent Willems, she will have her first exhibition in 1876 at the Paris Salon with a painting entitled "The Invocation of the Bride" and will continue the exhibitions until 1896.

She becomes a member of the Salon des French artists in 1885 and obtained an honorable mention there in 1887.

His creations are highly appreciated by critics and several of his paintings are cited as: “premier mourning”, “Adieu”, “L'abbesse de Jouarre” and “Fleurs d 'Orient'.
She won a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889.
She died between 1909 and 1913 in Paris, France

Alix-Louise Enault is one of the references of the book: "Women painters of the world, from the time of Caterina Vigri, 1413–1463, to Rosa Bonheur and Today ”, assembled and edited by Walter Shaw Sparrowen (United Kingdom), which provides an overview of prominent women painters up to 1905, year of publication.

The aim of the book was to prove that "the achievements of women painters were second-rate". The book includes over 300 images of paintings by over 200 painters, most of whom were born in the 19th century and won medals at various international exhibitions.