Mme Rivière

Lady with Notes

The plain appearance of the sitting young lady, who turns her face towards the observer as though she had been interrupted in her musical studies by the miniaturist, strongly suggest her being a member of the middle class. She is wearing a simple, plum-coloured empire gown with short white sleeves, and her dark, slightly curled hair is tied up by means of a ring, according to the fashion of the time. Her pale-coloured face with her cheeks, freshened up in a tender rose colour, are framed by some singly emphasized and very delicately painted curls, whose contouring and accentuating function extends to the plunging neckline. The lady`s slightly veiled look is directed at the viewer. Her face is masterly modelled with delicate glazes in grey and blue shades. However, the dress as well as the chair and the plain background are painted in opaque colours.