Portrait of Comtesse Starjinska
1804
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1804
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Portrait of Comtesse Starjinska is a 1804 by Eugène Isabey, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This sketch shows a woman with a serious expression, her hair pulled up in a loose style. She wears a high-necked dress with ruffles at the collar, and her hands rest on what looks like a fan or piece of fabric. The drawing uses soft shading to show light and shadow, giving her face a gentle, three-dimensional look. Notice how the artist leaves some edges fuzzy, especially around her hair and dress. This makes her look more real, like she’s caught in a quiet moment. The sketch feels quick but careful, as if done to capture her likeness fast. Look up Romanticism next to see how this style often focused on emotion and everyday life.
