A fine mid-19th-century portrait of a lady wearing a predominantly black outfit with a white bonnet. It’s plausible that she’s in the latter stages of mourning.

The artist has captured the complexity of her expression very well. What do you see? I get a sense of fragility in the eyes combined with a determination to carry on. The portrait is unsigned but clearly by a well-trained hand.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 20” x 24” / 51cm x 61cm
Year of creation: c. 1860
Provenance: England
Condition: Craquelure and a few paint losses including around the periphery due to its previous frame. Canvas relined.