An Elderly Lady in a Mauve Silk Dress
1767
pastel
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1767
pastel
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
An Elderly Lady in a Mauve Silk Dress is a 1767 pastel by Claude Bornet, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This painting shows a woman in a round frame. She wears a mauve dress with lace at the neck and cuffs, and her hair is pulled back under a cap. The background is plain, keeping all focus on her face and clothes. The artist used soft, blended colors—notice how the lace and fabric look almost three-dimensional. The painting is made with pastel on paper, not oils, which gives it a slightly rough texture. Next, check out the technique: pastel to see how artists use chalky sticks to create this kind of effect.
