Portrait of a young girl. Circa 1860. Entourage of Amaury-Duval. French school

Portrait of a young girl. Circa 1860 Entourage of Amaury-Duval.

Technique: oil on canvas, re-lined.
Painted with a strong imprint of the pictorial style of Dominique Ingres.
French school.
The model's face has classic features, an almost perfect oval of ancient Greek sculptures, which is enhanced by the lines of the hairstyle. The frontal position, the direct gaze, recall the canons of beauty put forward by Ingres, then by his students, notably Eugène-Emmanuel Amaury-Duval (Montrouge, 1808 – Paris, 1885).

This portrait represents the evolution of the neoclassical portrait, enriched with more realistic details and above all more vibrant in the brushstroke which describes the complexion, the dress with more naturalistic details.

The girl's expression and posture express a slight melancholy and gentle sadness: typical elements of the romantic culture of the mid-19th century.
In the background, a drawing oran antique tapestry hanging behind the girl appears barely legible.
The painting was recently cleaned by the professional restorer and repainted. The frame is older than the painting, in carved and gilded wood, with floral decorations, from the 18th century.