|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Jeanne-Philiberte Ledoux (Paris 1767 - Belleville 1840 )
|
| A young woman at her toilette
|
|
|
| |
|
Oil on panel, oval
16¾ x 13¾ in. (42.5 x 35 cm.)
A young woman turns her head slightly, holding a sheer shawl in front of her décolleté, at her morning toilette. Her hair is pinned and held together by a pink ribbon, her cheeks are blushed and the nightdress is just falling off her shoulders. The delicate colours echo the intimate subject of the painting, the tone of the skin is framed by the white blouse and shawl and her hair is blonde representing an idealised form of beauty in the eighteenth century. In its emphasis on beauty and elegance, this sensuous portrait is deeply rooted in the Rococo style. The Colnaghi painting is a characteristic and especially fine work by Jeanne-Philiberte Ledoux who specialised in portraits of young women; many of her models have a dreamy, distant expression on their faces.
Jeanne-Philiberte Ledoux was born in Paris in 1767 and was interested in art from an early age. Even though this was an unusual career for women her family supported her so that she could study. Jeanne-Philiberte Ledoux was a student of Jean-Baptiste Greuze (Tournus 1725 – 1805 Paris) and in the years between 1793 and 1819 she exhibited at the Salon mainly subjects of children and young girls. The delicacy and elegance of her portraits reveal the influence of her teacher. As such, Greuze’s Portrait of Mademoiselle Montredon (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) is similar to the present painting in terms of the subtle colouring and the oval form.
The popularity of portrait painting increased throughout the eighteenth century where the individual became the focus of interest, prompted by the ideas of the enlightenment. Next to official state portraits, intimate depictions – such as this work – became increasingly popular. Along with Elisabeth Louise Vigée Lebrun (Paris 1755 – 1842 Paris), who created many similar female portraits, Ledoux was one of the few female artists active at this time. In the eighteenth century, women could participate more actively in the city’s cultural life and as such portraiture was the most promising and productive genre of painting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. and D. Colnaghi and Co., Ltd - 15 Old Bond Street London W1S 4AX, United Kingdom Tel: +44-20-7491 7408 Fax: +44-20-7491 8851 contact@colnaghi.co.uk
|
|
Designed and managed by Antiques Trade Net
|
|
|