Mid-19th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Woman With A Bird

Mid-19th-Century French School, Portrait Of A Woman With A BirdThis charming mid 19th century French oil painting depicts a woman wearing a black dress with a lace collar and a prominent pink necktie. Shes holding a bird. During the 1850s, fashion tended to portray women as demure and doll like with a bell shaped silhouette. Dresses became voluminous and flesh tended to be covered. Centre partings remained popular with some opting for a low bun and or puffing out of the hair over the ears. Here, the lady wears a

the artist is painting from life

yet offered two distinct styles

Little is known about the sitter

Medium: Oil on canvasOverall size: 44½” x 53” / 113cm x 135cmYear of creation: 1891Condition: Artwork presents well

his women are all-knowing rather than subservient

Fairclough trained at the Royal College of Art and later received the prestigious ‘Rome Scholarship’ in Engraving

Frank Hill Smith

who soon became my good friend

During the early part of his career

and plenty of spirit

in 1864 he volunteered to join the Danish army and tragically lost his leg during the Battle of Als

there was still much to be gained from studying the rich tapestry of Renaissance masters and indeed the environment itself