This early-20th-century portrait by French painter Paul-Antoine Hallez (1872-1965) depicts a formidable lady with her left hand resting on an umbrella. It has an unusual atmospheric quality and the details are lifelike and sharp.

The subject is wearing an impressive outfit incorporating a large lace jabot, wide-brimmed black hat, embroidered silk cuffs with lace flounces, and a fur draped around her neck.

We spoke to a collector of antique fashion, Michaela Herron-Ward, who explained how difficult it was to move when wearing such an outfit. So perhaps the lady’s stern expression is due to her backache rather than her personality…

Paul-Antoine Hallez was highly regarded during his lifetime and trained under Pharaon de Winter (1849-1924) and the brilliant portraitist Léon Bonnat (1833-1922).

The painting is signed and dated in the upper left.