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Lady in Red Armchair

This young lady looks at the observer from the corners of her eyes with a somewhat coquettish expression, places the forefinger at her cheek and seems to expect a compliment concerning her outward appearance. She is dressed in a blue-white gown with lace on the neckline as well as on the sleeves, whose colours are repeated in her bonnet. As a contrast, she has draped a flimsy, black cloth over her shoulders. This representation could as well be imagined as a part of a little scene - for example an intimate party including a house concert, an afternoon conversation or when reading aloud in a family circle. The lady`s attentive look as well as her striking gesture are in favour of this impression. The colour chart, consisting of bright, strongly contrasting shades, and the dotty painting technique point to a miniaturist from either North Germany or Holland.

¹ Vgl. Jean François de Troy: Die Molière-Lesung, 1728. Abgebildet in: Philippe Ariès/Georges Duby (Hg.), Geschichte des privaten Lebens, Frankfurt a. M. 1995, Bd. 3, S. 151.