Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Jean-Marc Nattier. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The artwork represents a standard example of mid-eighteenth-century French portraiture created during the artist's active period in France.
The work depicts an unidentified woman, serving as the sole main subject of Jean-Marc Nattier's 1748 oil painting. As a portrait genre piece, the composition focuses entirely on the female figure without the inclusion of specific mythological allegories, historical attributes, or symbolic iconography detailed in the available records. The artwork represents a standard example of mid-eighteenth-century French portraiture created during the artist's active period in France.
While the sitter's specific identity and any deeper personal symbolism are not specified in the provided documentation, the painting functions as a formal representation of a woman from that era, emphasizing her presence through the medium of oil on canvas.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1748 by Jean-Marc Nattier, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 82.0 cm in height and 65.0 cm in width. Created in France, the piece exemplifies the portraiture genre, depicting a female subject.
The formal qualities align with mid-eighteenth-century French portrait conventions, focusing on the representation of the sitter within the specified dimensions.
History & Provenance
The portrait was created by Jean-Marc Nattier in 1748 in France, executed in oil paint on canvas. It is currently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it bears the accession number 1948.183. The sources do not record any specific commission or intermediate owners in the work's provenance.
Overview
Jean-Marc Nattier, a French painter active in the 18th century, completed this Portrait of a Woman in 1748. Executed in oil paint, the work exemplifies his skill in capturing individual likenesses. Nattier was a prominent figure in the Rococo period, frequently commissioned by the French aristocracy. This particular painting is now part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
Context
Active during the Rococo period, Jean-Marc Nattier established a reputation for his portraits of women associated with the court of King Louis XV. While he often depicted his subjects in allegorical or mythological guises, this work presents a more direct, yet equally sophisticated, representation. His ability to combine fashionable attire with a sense of refined grace made him a favored artist among the French nobility, reflecting the era's taste for elegance and personal display.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Marc Nattier (French pronunciation:; 17 March 1685 – 7 November 1766) was a French painter.
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