Antiquary & Expert CNES

This delicate pastel depicts an elegant lady of high society at the end of the 18th century. Her hair, powdered and adorned with pink flowers, is in the fashion of the time, and she gracefully embodies the feminine ideal of the pre-revolutionary era. Her gentle, slightly melancholic gaze, along with the fine modeling of her face, reflects the refinement of this technique on paper.

The figure holds a white flower in her left hand, likely a lily, a symbol of purity and nobility. Her bodice, embroidered with gold, and her warm-hued drapery further enhance the subject's noble bearing. The composition, both understated and elegant, is magnified by a dark background that accentuates the model's diaphanous complexion.

This portrait is presented in its original giltwood frame, decorated with pearls and raised friezes, which fully contributes to the perception of an authentic work of art from the Age of Enlightenment.