Artwork
Portrait of a Young Woman
Portrait of a Young Woman is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist Charles Hénard. It dates from 1793 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The ivory panel serves as the traditional support for such works, providing a compact ground that enhances color saturation.
The work titled Portrait of a Young Woman is a portrait miniature painted in watercolor on an ivory support. It was created in 1785 by Charles Hénard, a French miniaturist active in the late 18th century. The medium consists of delicate watercolor pigments applied with fine brushwork to achieve soft tonal transitions and a smooth surface characteristic of miniature portraiture.
The ivory panel serves as the traditional support for such works, providing a compact ground that enhances color saturation. No information on handling or current condition is recorded in the cited documentation, and the formal composition depicts a three‑quarter view of a young woman rendered with subtle modeling and restrained palette.
History & Provenance
The miniature was painted by Charles Hénard in 1785, as indicated by both the artist’s record and the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection entry. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art as accession number 1942.1143, where it remains held. Its early history and any prior owners before the museum’s acquisition are not documented in the cited sources.
Overview
Charles Hénard created this Portrait of a Young Woman in 1793. Executed on ivory, this painting is a notable example of the artist's work from the late 18th century. It is currently part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, where it offers insight into portraiture of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a young woman with light-brown, curly hair, adorned with a white headband. She wears a white dress featuring a blue sash, complemented by a dark shawl with red accents draped over her shoulders. Her right hand rests gently on a railing, while her left arm is bent, with her hand positioned near her waist.
A three-strand gold necklace graces her neck, and her gaze is directed slightly to her right, conveying an air of composed dignity.
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Artist & collection
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