18th Century Portrait of a Lady, Oil on Canvas

18th Century Portrait of a Lady, Oil on Canvas

A beautiful and evocative antique oil portrait depicting an elegantly dressed woman with powdered hair, a delicate floral adornment, rosy cheeks, and a striking blue ribbon tied at her neck. Her dark gown is richly detailed with an ornate bodice, set dramatically against the deep, nearly black background.

Believed to date to the 18th century, the portrait has all of the wonderful character we look for in an early painting. The canvas appears to have possibly been cut down from a larger composition at some point in its history and subsequently mounted to its present stretcher, adding another layer to its centuries-long story.

The painting remains wonderfully decorative with beautiful muted coloring and an especially lovely face. It shows significant evidence of age, including craquelure, surface texture, areas of wear and loss, particularly along the edges, and evidence of historic restoration consistent with a painting of this age. Please review all photographs closely as they form an important part of the condition description.

Oil on canvas
Approx. 22” H x 18” W
Likely 18th century
Unframed, with a simple protective edging around the canvas.