French Louis XVI Period Portrait
Late 18th Century Oil on Board in Original Carved & Gilded Oval Frame
A charming and highly decorative French portrait from the Louis XVI period, dating to the final quarter of the 18th century, circa 1775–1790.
The painting is executed in oil on wooden panel and presents a refined young woman in three-quarter view, seated before a dark ground. She wears a delicate fichu and lace-trimmed bodice in warm golden tones, accented with soft rose ribbons. Her hair is dressed high in the fashionable style of the late Ancien Régime, wrapped in a gauzy bonnet tied with a pink bow — a look seen in portraiture of the years just preceding the Revolution.
Her expression is direct yet gentle, with luminous brown eyes and softly modeled features. The handling of light across her cheeks and décolletage gives warmth and vitality, while the darker background provides elegant contrast. The brushwork remains visible, lending the piece an authentic 18th-century presence rather than the slickness of later revival works.
The portrait retains its original carved wood oval frame with gesso and gilding. The frame features a molded outer band and an inner beaded liner, entirely consistent with Louis XVI taste. The gilding shows honest age with minor wear and small losses, which only enhance its authenticity and character. The reverse reveals old nails and early construction consistent with period assembly.
Dimensions
Frame: 12.25” x 11” x 1.5” deep
Painting (visible oval): approximately 8.5” x 7”
Oil on board
Condition
The painting shows age-appropriate craquelure and minor surface wear consistent with its 18th-century origin. No obvious modern overpainting is apparent under normal light. The panel remains stable. The frame retains original gilding with expected rubbing, small chips, and patina, some loss to surface gesso and gilt finish at bottom rim, visible in our photos. Painting held in place with bracing nails at present. Overall presentation is very pleasing and ready to hang.
