A charming Oil on Panel Portrait of an Elegant Woman by French Painter Louise Abbéma.
Louise Abbéma was born in 1853 in Etampes (south of Paris).
Coming from a wealthy, aristocratic background, she was the daughter of Viscount Emile-Léon Abbéma and the great-great-granddaughter of Louis XV, King of France.
Her family connections allowed her to receive artistic training from notable artists such as Charles Chaplin and Carolus Durand…
She exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1874 to 1926, as well as at the 1900 World’s Fair.
She presented her works eight times at the Galerie Georges in Paris, as well as at the Woman’s Building of the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
Her career was marked by numerous medals and awards.
At the age of 18, she painted a portrait of Sarah Bernhardt, which led to a long artistic and romantic relationship that lasted until the actress’s death in 1923.
Louise Abbéma became a prominent artistic figure in Parisian high society, frequenting the upper class and bourgeoisie, who provided her with commissions such as the “Perfumes” ceiling for the Guerlain boutique at 15 rue de la Paix in Paris, presented in 1876.
Her studio also served as a salon, a place for sittings and social gatherings.
Louise Abbéma’s career reflects the changing role of women artists in the 19th century. As educational opportunities expanded, women increasingly participated in professional artistic endeavors. While facing social prejudices that often undervalued their work, Abbéma achieved considerable success and recognition.
Her depictions of women, sometimes portrayed with androgynous features and engaged in traditionally masculine activities, contributed to the evolving representations of female identity during the Belle Époque.
In recent decades, a renewed interest in the contributions of women artists has led to a re-evaluation of Abbéma’s work.
Her portraits, frescoes, and other creations are now recognized for their artistic merit and historical importance, thus solidifying her place as a significant figure in the history of French art.
Her academic style, infused with Impressionist sensibility, resulted in a groundbreaking style for the time.
She employed light and rapid brushstrokes, creating delicate yet vibrant works.
She was also commissioned to decorate public spaces, such as the Paris City Hall and the Paris Opera.
This work on a wooden panel is representative of her style, academic in its approach with Impressionistic touches in its execution.
While the face is carefully modeled, the clothing is depicted with quick, energetic brushstrokes, as is the background, where the brushwork remains clearly visible.
An exquisite work by a great lady of 19th-century art. Small in size but masterfully rendered, presented in a magnificent gilded wooden frame.
Oil on panel, unsigned, presented in a gilded wooden frame.
Unframed 8½ X 6½
Framed 21 X 18