Beautiful Small
Profile Portrait
Young Woman
Seated in a Chair  

Northeast, possibly Pennsylvania, ca 1820.

Oil on Wooden Panel. The attractive, confident, and relaxed young woman rendered half-length, elaborately dressed with lace collar and shawl, holding a book in her left hand (to communicate that she was literate) while seated in a paint-decorated thumb back Windsor chair.

There is a warmth and sophistication to this portrait. Her face shows just the right color-tone and softness, and her well-developed hand with slender fingers balances the color of her face.

Presented in a period black-over-red grained-painted frame that is likely original, the surface and patina of which works synergistically with the portrait. Minor touchup. Frame about 10 5/8 inches x 8 5/8. From a long-time private Maine collection.