Artwork
Portrait of a young Girl
Portrait of a young Girl is an oil painting by Louis Gustave Ricard. It dates from 1858 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
Overview
Louis Gustave Ricard, a French portraitist active in the mid‑nineteenth century, painted *Portrait of a Young Girl* circa 1858. Executed in oil on canvas, the work is part of the Ashmolean Museum’s collection and exemplifies Ricard’s focus on individual likenesses.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a youthful figure with loose, reddish curls and a black dress accented by a white, ruffled collar. She gazes directly at the viewer with a composed, neutral expression, inviting contemplation of her identity and the conventions of portraiture at the time.
Technique & Style
Ricard employs a strong chiaroscuro, setting the sitter against a deep, dark background that heightens the contrast between light and shadow. The rendering of the hair and fabric demonstrates careful modeling, while the limited palette underscores the figure’s presence.
History & Provenance
Created around 1858, the painting entered the Ashmolean Museum’s holdings in the twentieth century, though details of its earlier ownership remain sparse. Its acquisition reflects the museum’s interest in French academic portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Louis Gustave Ricard (1 September 1823, Marseille – 23 January 1873, Paris) was a French painter, known primarily for his portraits.
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