Early 19th century watercolor portrait presents a very attractive and fashionable young lady. She is set on a variegated blue background. Her face is delicate - narrow jaw-line, almond shaped eyes, feathered eyebrows, thin nose, and small mouth. Her clothing and hair, the most stylish fashions of the 1795 - 1820 time period, is luxuriously colored. The artist skillfully used shading and shadowing to illustrate the complexity and richness of her hairstyle and clothing.
Women's fashion around this time started to follow classical ideals. Inspired by the ancient Greek and Roman style, dresses featured high, under the bust waistlines and loosely falling dresses just below. The classical influence extended to hairstyles as well. In the 1790s, masses of curls were worn over the forehead and ears, with the longer back hair drawn up into loose buns. By the 1810s, front hair was parted in the center and worn in tight ringlets over the ears, as is depicted in this watercolor. Although the year 1796 is written on the back of the watercolor, that is probably her birth year as her clothing and hair style indicate an 1810-1815 time period.
This piece is in excellent condition. Framed in an early, possibly original, single beveled edge frame. Dimensions: sight 5.25” x 7”; frame 9” x 10.5”.