Lady in a Black Dress with a White Shawl

Anreiter portrayed this unknown middle-aged lady in front of a cloudy background which opens up towards the centre, thus drawing attention to the head and bust of the sitter. The sitter’s straight dark brown hair is worn in a plain style with a middle parting. The ends are tightly plaited and coiled into snails that are pinned in front of the ears. Pearl earrings, pearls worked subtly into the hairstyle, and a single rose pinned to the front of the shawl serve as the sitter’s only adornments. The plain appearance of the model and the black dress lead to the assumption that the portrait depicts a widow.¹

While Anreiter’s talent is frequently evident in the perfect rendering of the decorative details of his usually sumptuously dressed and coiffed models, this portrait reveals his ability to create a delicate depiction of the face. He created the skin tones using several glazed layers of paint and visible brushstrokes. The gradual transitions between different shades of skin colour, and delicate blueish shadows give the face a contoured yet soft appearance.

J. S. O.