Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Madame Récamier (1777–1849)
An oval ivory miniature of a woman with curls under a lace bonnet, a portrait said to be Madame Récamier, the star of Parisian society. Full commentary ↓
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Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Madame Récamier (1777–1849) is an ivory or bone object by Nicolas François Dun (ca. 1812–14) in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In the pictureInside an oval frame bordered with pearl-like ornaments, a woman wearing a white lace bonnet is dressed in a white gown. Black curls emerge over her forehead, and pleated lace is wrapped around her neck as well. The painter's signature can be seen on the right, and the museum's image is black and white. It is 6 cm tall.
BackgroundJuliette Récamier was the most famous society woman in Napoleonic Paris, widely known through portraits by David and Gérard. That the sitter of this miniature is she rests on tradition and has not been confirmed. Nicolas François Dun was a French miniaturist active in Naples who painted lace and curls in fine detail with a thin brush.
Puzzle tipSet the ornamental pieces of the oval border first, and place the face and black curls in the middle. Join the white lace pieces following the direction of the pleats, and fill in the dark background pieces last. 24 or 48 pieces is about right.
- Artist
- French, Lunéville 1764–1832 Naples
- Classification
- Miniatures
- Medium
- Ivory
- Dimensions
- Oval, 2 3/8 x 1 7/8 in. (60 x 48 mm)
- Credit line
- Bequest of Collis P. Huntington, 1900
Source: The Metropolitan Museum of Art ↗
In these collections: Portrait and Self-Portrait Puzzles
Stories about this work
- Faces Inside a Pocket Watch Lid: Four Portrait Miniatures on Ivory
Portraits set in pocket watch lids and pendants, or pressed into a departing lover's hand. Reading four ivory miniatures from Napoleonic France.
