Artwork
Portrait of a Lady Drinking Coffee
Portrait of a Lady Drinking Coffee is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Constance Marie Charpentier. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Clark Art Institute.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1800, this oil painting portrays a woman seated at a table with a coffee cup, spoon, and a coffee pot within a dimly lit interior. She wears a dark dress accented by a white scarf and a modest head covering, set against a deep brown background that emphasizes the quiet domestic scene.
Subject & Meaning
The work focuses on a moment of everyday leisure, capturing a solitary figure engaged in the simple act of drinking coffee. By highlighting a private, domestic ritual, the artist underscores the intimacy of daily life for women in the early nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Executed in the neoclassical idiom prevalent at the turn of the century, the painting employs smooth brushwork and a restrained palette. The careful modeling of light on the fabric and porcelain creates a sense of clarity and compositional balance typical of the period’s genre paintings.
History & Provenance
The piece was produced by French painter Constance Marie Charpentier, known for genre scenes and portraits of women and children. It now belongs to the collection of the Clark Art Institute, where it is displayed as part of their European paintings holdings.
Context
At the time of its creation, coffee had become a fashionable beverage in French households, symbolizing both modernity and refined taste. The painting reflects contemporary social customs and the growing interest among artists in depicting ordinary, middle‑class life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Constance Marie Charpentier (born 4 April 1767 Paris, – 3 August 1849 Paris) was a French painter. She specialized in genre scenes and portraits, mainly of children and women. She was also known as Constance Marie Blondelu.
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