Large English School Portrait of lady with Oranges. 1715 circa

Large English School Portrait of lady with Oranges.

1715 circa.

Circle of Michael Dahl (1659 -1743)

The painting finds many similarities with the stylistics and setting of portraits of the Petworth Beauties series of Petworth House. In some of which we find the orange shrub, sometimes in flower. Swedish painter Michael Dahl was the only serious rival of the other foreign portraitist, German Godfrey Kneller, one of the protagonists of the English portrait school.

Dimensions: H 128 cm x L 103cm

Oil on canvas.

Relined.

In good condition.

A three-quarter-length portrait, standing, three-quarters right, wearing a green silk dress and an orange cloak. Her left hand is resting on a pedestal against an interior of  background. 

The lady of noble appearance has a studiedly informal hairstyle. His clothing, which we can define as "a fake desabille", corresponds to the fashion of the early 18th century.

At elbow height the fabric of the dress is stapled by jewels, this gives a soft appearance to the whole, and allows the painter to demonstrate mastery in skillfully representing the folds of the fabric. 

The "wrapping gown", worn by the model, was used especially in the evening, or in private rooms and environments.

The presence of an orange plant is not accidental, it could be an allusion to the heraldic symbols, the hypothesis strengthened by the orange color of the woman's cloak.