Rococo Portrait of a Young Lady, Attributed to Circle of Antoine Pesne (1683–1757), Prussian / Central European School, c. 1750–1770

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Title:

Rococo Portrait of a Young Lady

Attributed to Circle of Antoine Pesne (1683–1757), Prussian / Central European School, c. … Read more Title:

Rococo Portrait of a Young Lady

Attributed to Circle of Antoine Pesne (1683–1757), Prussian / Central European School, c. 1750–1770

Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 56.5 × 46 cm (unframed)
Date: Mid-18th century

This accomplished oil on canvas portrait depicts a young lady in three-quarter profile and represents a fine example of mid-18th-century Rococo portraiture. The sitter is shown with a powdered, voluminous hairstyle typical of the period, her features delicately modeled through soft sfumato transitions. A luminous white silk drapery envelops her shoulders and décolletage, rendered with fluid, confident brushwork, while a dark, neutral background enhances the clarity and elegance of the figure.

Stylistically, the painting belongs to the Frederician Rococo tradition of the Prussian / Central European school and shows clear affinities with works from the circle of Antoine Pesne, court painter to Frederick the Great in Berlin. The harmonious palette, refined modeling of flesh tones, and balanced composition reflect the aesthetic ideals of aristocratic portraiture around 1750–1770.

The surface displays age-consistent craquelure and minor historical wear; the reverse shows an authentic old patina, with indications of a possible later lining. Overall, the painting is in good and stable condition for its age, with no apparent major restorations. Unsigned, as is typical for works produced within an artist’s circle.

This portrait is a solid, scholarly example of Rococo portrait painting, suitable for an Old Master collection, academic context, or an interior seeking authentic 18th-century elegance.

Provinance:
Private collection, Austria (Wien) See less