Antique French Bonnet Portrait Painting of a Woman Holding a Rose
Antique French Bonnet Portrait Painting of a Woman Holding a Rose
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She holds a single pink rose, and the reading is consistent throughout: the pansies tucked into her bonnet brim carry the old pun on the French pensée, a thought or remembrance, the pink rose stands for grace and affection rather than the red rose's passion, and the marguerites scattered on the ledge read as innocence. Together they point to an affectionate keepsake, most likely a betrothal or marriage portrait of a middle-class woman around 1830. The wide halo-brim bonnet and the full gigot sleeves date her dress closely to about 1828 to 1835, and the coral clasp at her wrist is the fashionable protective ornament of the period. An unidentified but sure provincial hand, sensitive in the face, plainer in the drawing of the black dress. She carries her age openly, with craquelure across the surface and losses that are part of two centuries of life.
This portrait shows its age and I want to be clear about what that means before you buy. Fine craquelure runs across the entire surface, consistent with an oil of this period. There are several discrete paint losses where the ground or canvas shows through, the most noticeable being a cluster at lower center near the sitter's hand and the painted flowers, with smaller scattered flake losses in the dark dress and background. The overall surface has darkened and carries grime, which mutes the background and deepens the dress. The canvas has been relined at some point in its life. The relining has stabilized the canvas against further age-related movement, and it also means any labels, stamps, or inscriptions once on the reverse are no longer present, so the dating here rests on costume and construction rather than documents. My notes are drawn from close inspection of the photographs and my own look at the piece. I have not had technical or laboratory examination done, so I am describing what is visibly determinable and leaving undetermined anything I cannot personally stand behind.
The frame is a later gilt composition molding, not original to the painting, with chips and losses at the corners. It presents well from the front at hanging distance but should be understood as a replacement, not a period frame.
Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description.
#127
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Important Info About Antique & Vintage
Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.
Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.
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Colors may appear slightly different on screen due to monitor settings and photography lighting. We do our best to represent each item accurately.
