Portrait of a Lady Holding a Book
1740
oil
From the collection of Walters Art Museum
1740
oil
From the collection of Walters Art Museum
This painting shows a woman in an 18th-century dress, holding a book in her left hand. She wears a lace-trimmed dress and a bonnet with a bow at the front. The background is dark, with some faint shapes that could be furniture or a room. The woman's face is serious, and she looks straight ahead. Her right hand rests on her lap, and her left hand holds the book. The book is open, but the pages are not visible. The woman's dress is decorated with lace and ribbons, and her bonnet is tied under her chin. The painting is done in oil paint, with visible brushstrokes and texture. The overall effect is one of quiet contemplation, as if the woman is lost in thought. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique of chiaroscuro.
