Madame Coury, Duhamel Widow

Romany employs chiaroscuro to model the figure against a darkened interior, allowing the illuminated fabrics and the sitter’s face to emerge with three‑dimensional clarity. The contrast between the deep background—suggesting a table and books—and the lit foreground enhances the sense of depth and focuses attention on the subject’s features.

Created shortly after the turn of the 19th century, the portrait entered the Nationalmuseum’s holdings through acquisition in the early 20th century. Its provenance traces back to the Duhamel family, though detailed records of its intermediate ownership remain limited.