Circle of Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot

This sensitive life study is very close in style and mood to the portraits Corot made of women, often in neutral interiors, which he seems to have painted for himself rather than for exhibition.  Interestingly it also follows Corot’s practice of painting many of these portraits on heavy paper which had been mounted on canvas so they remained stable after application of the oil paint.  This all suggests that it is the work of a painter in Corot’s circle of friends who frequented his studio.  Comparing it to Corot’s portraits suggests a date around 1870.

The sitter has not been positively identified.  She may be one of the artist’s models who posed regularly for Corot as well as other leading painters in Paris at this time.