This splendid early 18th-century French portrait depicts an elegant lady wearing a sumptuous red silk gown, white lace and dark fur. Painted in around 1725, her appearance places her within the fashionable world of the French Régence, a fascinating period.

Her outfit is particularly striking. Voluminous folds of shimmering crimson silk tumble across her arms, revealing a white chemise edged with delicate lace. A luxurious sweep of dark fur provides a dramatic contrast, while small red ribbons are entwined through her elaborately arranged hair. 

During the early 18th century, the homes of the wealthiest French families were becoming increasingly comfortable and sophisticated. Interiors were becoming more intimate, with richly upholstered furniture, mirrors, decorative panelling and candlelight reflecting from gilded surfaces. Social life predominantly revolved around visits with dinners, music, and light conversation, while dress provided an important expression of status. One can imagine our sitter rustling through this world in considerable style.

Yet for all the splendour surrounding her, there's a sense of the underlying personality here. The artist has concentrated on her face, which emerges softly from the dark background. She appears with a calm, slightly knowing expression, and it's this quiet sense of personality that ultimately holds our attention.

Held within an ornate gilt frame.

Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 29” x 34” / 73cm x 87cm
Year of creation: c. 1725
Provenance: Private collection, Lyon, France.
Condition: Cleaned. Revarnished. Canvas relined. Later stretcher. Fine craquelure throughout. The paint layer is stable. Frame with various marks and showing its age.
Our reference: BRV2328