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Circa 1825 Folk Portrait in Paint Decorated Frame

Description
This lovely lady gazes straight to the viewer with her pale grey or hazel eyes. Her half-smile is reminiscent of Mona Lisa’s smile—is she smiling or isn’t she? Her engaging face is framed by tight curls (or rolls) of hair. Her bonnet further frames her face with lace and blue ribbon. A sprig of leaf at the apex of the bonnet lace leads our eyes to the fact that the back of the white bonnet stands high enough to cover a tall hair knot—possibly an Apollo knot which was popular during the decade. Her dress neckline is low, the bodice crossed with pleats which end at her natural waist. The most striking aspect of her dress are the huge, stuffed and puffed demi-gigot sleeves. The lady’s dress is cut low, but her modesty is saved by the white tucker with a large turned down collar. Her dress pegs this lady as circa 1825. She is painted in watercolor with gum arabic heightening the details of her dress. The portrait is on thick paper and resides in a wonderful paint decorated frame with great surface. Condition of the painting is very good with expected toning to the paper and small white spots on the dress which the gum arabic has flaked just a little. The edges of the frame show some bumps, but who cares on such a wonderful paint decorated frame? Frame 8” x 9”, sight 4.25” x 5 1/8.”