Lady in a Black Velvet Dress

The portrait of a lady in an elaborate black velvet dress is one of the last known works by Aubry. The long narrow shape of the sitter’s face is emphasised by a hairpiece piled high over the middle parting, the so-called Apollo knot. The very pale skin of the sitter’s face and décolletage, modelled with blueish shadows, creates a strong contrast to the black dress with its wide sleeves; only a long gold chain lightens the otherwise austere representation. The lids of her large almond-shaped eyes cover the upper part of the pupils, creating the impression of a condescending gaze.
This miniature is a late work by Louis François Aubry. Not only did the artist leave an extensive oeuvre for posterity but he also taught numerous men and women the art of miniature painting over several decades. Owing to his confident painting technique, Aubry was a popular teacher. Artistically, however, he was vastly surpassed by several of his students, for example François Meuret and Frédéric Millet.
J. S. O.