Lady in Chemise Dress with Blue Ribbons

A young lady in a light chemise dress is sitting at a table over a cup of chocolate. She is resting her arms, which are folded in front of her body on the table-top, while her right hand is tucked into her left sleeve. Her hair is untidy. Admittedly, she is wearing a powdered wig but some strands have become loose and are falling over her left shoulder. It seems as if the lady has just got out of bed and is now being portrayed having her breakfast. Not yet dressed, she seems to be feeling slightly cold.¹

This intimate portrayal indicates that the miniature was painted for the lady’s beloved. Her thoughts seem to be dwelling on his absence as suggested by her sad and longing gaze. To accentuate the private character of the scene, the artist has portrayed his sitter in a dimly lit interior. He painted a bouffant curtain in the upper margin of the picture. On closer examination, however, this proves to be a mere decorative accessory, yet it seems to separate a sort of alcove from the room into which the lady had withdrawn.

The miniature was probably painted by a German artist who was guided by French paintings, as was common at that time. Since the era of Louis XV, portraits that did not stress the sitter’s social status so much but rather her taste and esprit while showing her in her domestic sphere had been very popular in France.

B. P.