Who painted Portrait of a young Woman?

Portrait of a young Woman was painted by Gioacchino Giuseppe Serangeli in 1808.

Where can I see Portrait of a young Woman?

Portrait of a young Woman is held by Ashmolean Museum.

What movement is Portrait of a young Woman?

Portrait of a young Woman is associated with Biedermeier.

Artwork

Portrait of a young Woman

Gioacchino Giuseppe Serangeli , 1808

Portrait of a young Woman is an oil painting by the Biedermeier artist Gioacchino Giuseppe Serangeli. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1808 by the Roman artist Gioacchino Giuseppe Serangeli, this oil painting portrays a young woman in a white dress accented by a yellow shawl. The figure holds a single flower and looks toward the viewer, her gaze drifting slightly to the side. Behind her, a modest landscape of trees and distant scenery provides a calm backdrop.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents an intimate, domestic scene typical of early nineteenth‑century portraiture, focusing on personal elegance rather than public grandeur. The inclusion of the flower and the soft coloration suggest themes of youthful freshness and refined femininity, inviting contemplation of the sitter’s private world within a tranquil natural setting.

Technique & Style

Serangeli employs a smooth, refined brushwork that renders the fabrics and foliage with subtle gradations of light and shadow. A balanced palette of warm yellows against cooler, muted tones creates visual contrast, while delicate modeling of the face demonstrates a restrained use of chiaroscuro, emphasizing form without dramatic intensity.

History & Provenance

While residing in France, Serangeli, a former pupil of Jacques‑Louis David, produced this portrait for members of the emerging post‑revolutionary elite. The painting entered the Ashmolean Museum’s collection, where it remains part of the institution’s holdings of early nineteenth‑century European art.

Artist & collection

Artist

Gioacchino Giuseppe Serangeli

Gioacchino Giuseppe Serangeli (1768 – 12 January 1852) was a Roman painter, a pupil of Jacques-Louis David, who painted in France during the period of the French Revolution and the subsequent First French Empire.