Artwork
Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Madame Récamier (1777–1849)
Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Madame Récamier (1777–1849) is an unspecified painting by Nicolas François Dun. It dates from 1812 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a facet of early 19th-century portraiture.
This painting, titled Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Madame Récamier, was created in 1812 by the French artist Nicolas François Dun. A portrait miniature painter from Lunéville, Dun captured the likeness of an unidentified woman, though tradition associates her with the prominent social figure Juliette Récamier. The work is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a facet of early 19th-century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The artwork depicts a woman presented frontally, her expression composed and serene. She is adorned with a high, frilled hat secured by a ribbon beneath her chin, complemented by a delicate lace collar. The plain background directs the viewer's attention entirely to the sitter's face and attire, emphasizing her presence and the details of her period fashion. The attribution to Madame Récamier remains a traditional, rather than definitive, identification.
Technique & Style
As a practitioner of portrait miniatures, Nicolas François Dun demonstrates a refined approach to capturing individual likeness. In this painting, the artist employed subtle gradations of light and shadow to model the sitter's features, imparting a sense of three-dimensionality to the face despite the two-dimensional medium. This careful rendering of form through soft shading is characteristic of the detailed attention often found in miniature portraiture of the era.
History & Provenance
Created in 1812, this portrait by Nicolas François Dun has since become part of the esteemed collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. While specific details regarding its journey to the museum are not provided, its inclusion signifies its recognized artistic or historical value. The artist himself is further represented in major institutions, with two additional works housed in the Louvre Museum, underscoring his presence in significant public collections.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nicolas François Dun (1764–1832) was a French portrait miniature painter born in Lunéville. There are two works by Dun at the Louvre Museum.
