Where can I see Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, Grignanin kreivitär?

Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, Grignanin kreivitär is held by Finnish National Gallery.

Artwork

Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, Grignanin kreivitär

Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, Grignanin kreivitär is an unspecified painting by Alexander Roslin. It dates from 1765 and is held in the collection of the Finnish National Gallery.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1765, this oil portrait by Alexander Roslin depicts a young woman in a three‑quarter view, presented from the waist upward. She is rendered against a muted brown backdrop, her posture poised and her gaze directed slightly downward, conveying a composed and introspective demeanor.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is shown with her hair gathered high and accented by delicate blue blossoms, wearing a white satin gown trimmed with a blue ruffled bodice and a matching blue bow at the neck. The restrained palette and the subject’s serene expression suggest an emphasis on aristocratic elegance and personal modesty.

Technique & Style

Roslin employs a smooth, luminous handling of the satin fabric, allowing light to glide across the white material while the blue accents catch subtle highlights. The brushwork is refined, with careful modeling of the facial features and a soft gradation of tones that enhance the portrait’s sense of depth against the plain background.

History & Provenance

The work, titled "Françoise Marguerite de Sévigné, Grignanin kreivitär," is attributed to Roslin, a Swedish painter active in the French court. While specific ownership records are limited, the painting’s dating to the mid‑1760s places it within Roslin’s mature period, when he was in high demand among European nobility.

Artist & collection

Artist

Alexander Roslin

Alexander Roslin (pronounced ; spelled Alexandre in French, pronounced ; 15 July 1718 – 5 July 1793) was a Swedish painter who worked in Scania, Bayreuth, Paris, Italy, Warsaw and St.