Oil on canvas in a period carved and gitwood frame.Our portrait captures superbly the ostensibly modest yet seductive character of the sitter..It is a good example of the way that Dahl and his Circle eloquently depicted aristocratic women. In terms of both draughtmanship and pose, Dahl''s female portraits are noticeably softer and gentler than Kneller''s, and thus allow for a greater versatility in the expression of feminine beauty.Dahl''s works are frequently distinguished by a greater attention to the character of the sitter than those of his rivals, and he particularly allowed a softer aspect to the surfaces of his sitter''s costume and drapery. His colours are silvered and luminous, and there is a great charm and sensitivity in the overall expression of the sitter. In this example, the drapery and sitter''s turned head impact a subtle sense of movement. She wears the headcloth often seen in Dahl''s portraits at this period; her gown is fashionably revealing, the suppose...