Early 19th Century Danish School Portrait of a Lady with a White Scarf

19th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

An early 19th-century portrait of an elegant female wearing a simple black dress with a white scarf. Her hair is styled into a bun with ringlets that fall across her forehead.

In her right hand she’s holding a letter that appears to be addressed to ‘Madame Beaufort’ of Bordeaux. It’s unusual to find an address on a letter within a portrait so presumably the sitter requested that this be included.

There are various lines of noble Beaufort families, so perhaps it was seen as prestigious to have links with French nobility. It’s an intriguing mystery.

The portrait is housed within a later gilded frame with attractive foliate borders.

Medium: Oil on canvas

Overall size: 29½” x 35½” / 75cm x 90cm

Year of creation: c. 1815

Provenance: Denmark

Condition: Craquelure throughout. Repairs to the canvas. A slit in the lower left. Paint losses - mainly in the lower right. Frame with minor losses.

Physical Dimensions

Height

90cm (35.43")

Width

75cm (29.53")

Depth

4cm (1.57")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA719144

Description

An early 19th-century portrait of an elegant female wearing a simple black dress with a white scarf. Her hair is styled into a bun with ringlets that fall across her forehead.

“

In her right hand she’s holding a letter that appears to be addressed to ‘Madame Beaufort’ of Bordeaux.

Brave Fine Art

It’s unusual to find an address on a letter within a portrait so presumably the sitter requested that this be included.

fig 1. Early 19th Century Danish School Portrait Of A Lady With A White Scarf — fig 1. Early 19th Century Danish School Portrait of a Lady with a White Scarf

There are various lines of noble Beaufort families, so perhaps it was seen as prestigious to have links with French nobility. It’s an intriguing mystery.

The portrait is housed within a later gilded frame with attractive foliate borders.