Lady in Chemise Dress

The sitter in this portrait by Sicardi wears a voluminous powdered wig of curls and a white chemise dress with a broad, frilly collar and neckline. The portrait, dated in the second half of the 1780s, is an exception among the artist’s works regarding its colours: Sicardi usually favoured bright colours when designing clothing and background, but here you can see an almost monochrome cool blue grey. Only the lady’s face radiates warmth; it has many different colour nuances. It is turned – as is often the case in Sicardi’s miniatures – towards the observer, her lips are slightly parted in an expression of yearning, and her eyes are remarkably dark.

Sicardi is one of the most eminent French miniature painters of the last quarter of the 18th century, and he maintained this position in the Empire as well, ranking immediately after Augustin and Isabey. He was able to earn a considerable fortune due to his numerous commissions from the French royal family and the high aristocracy. After the outbreak of the French Revolution, however, the situation became more difficult for the artist, but Sicardi remained in Paris and tried to establish a new clientele. He portrayed some leading politicians¹ and painted genre scenes with sometimes erotic, sometimes revolutionary patriotic themes.² Immediately after taking power Louis XVIII bestowed the “Legion of Honour” on the artist, obviously remembering the numerous works Sicardi performed in the service of his brother Louis XVI .

B. P.