So many portraits, and faces, specifically, to fall in love with! The style of this young woman's blue dress makes me think this gouache and watercolor on silk dates to the 1820s or so, with the oval cut shape of the silk akin to the format of painted miniatures. But how much nicer for it to be a full length portrait, especially for including this exuberant bouquet spreading like a fan in her raised hand--and with charmingly extended pinky wrapped around the stem. And then a parasol in the other hand, with finial that looks like it could also be used as a hammer! It reminds me a bit of the work of itinerant portraitist Jacob Maentel (1763-1863) of that period, though this is even folkier and more naive. Marvelous face, fabulous hair--perhaps painted for sending to a potential betrothed. LOVE. In the antique frame I found it in, the painting on silk mounted to a black ground, and wood panel back.
In antique frame, as found: 12 1/2" x 10 1/2". Painting itself: 8 5/8" x 6". Some scattered stains on the silk, more general than pronounced.
