This charming early 19th-century portrait by Italian artist, Dominique Erra (1768-1830) depicts a woman wearing a high-waisted lilac empire-style dress with a splendid straw bonnet, topped with a floral embellishment.

Doe-eyed, rather merry, and certainly proud of having her portrait done, she looks out towards the viewer with almost 200 years of history. Nothing is known of her identity but it’s likely that the portrait once hung in the family home. Perhaps it was accompanied by a companion piece.

Dominique Erra was born in Venice, where he presumably trained, and moved to France sometime prior to 1806 when his son was born in Meurthe-et-Moselle. For a period during the 1810s, he lived in Baden, Germany, working predominantly as a portraitist. He died in Lyon in 1830.

The reverse bears a partial framer’s label from Dijon, along with an inscription - “Painted by Erra, the year 1827”.

Held within a gilt frame, which could be original.

Learn more about Dominique Erra in our directory.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 17½” x 20½” / 45cm x 52cm
Year of creation: 1827
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed on the reverse ‘Peint par Erra. L’an 1827’ / Framer’s label from Dijon, France.
Provenance: Private collection, France.
Condition: Cleaned. Faint stretcher marks. Craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable.
Our reference: BRV1965