Eugénie Servières (1786-1855) Portrait Of A Young Woman 1824 Guillon-lethière

Eugénie SERVIÈRES (née Charen)
(Paris 1786 - Paris 1855)
Portrait of a young woman - 1824
Oil on canvas
H. 65 cm; L. 50 cm

The artist joined, like Anoinette Haudebourg-Lescot, the studio of Guillaume Guillon-Lethière at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. The explanation is very simple, since the artist's mother married the young Eugénie's future teacher for the second time. From 1808, she exhibited at the Salon until 1824. Unlike other women painters who remained in the sentimental and anecdotal domain, Eugénie Servières did not hesitate to embark on historical and allegorical themes. A few portraits are known, such as that of Madame Antoine Arnault, wife of the famous author of vaudevilles, very close to the Emperor (kept in the Palace of Versailles). Many acquisitions are made by personalities, like the Duke Decazes, Minister of the Interior in 1819, Lucien Bonaparte, etc...

Our very elegant young lady was painted in 1824, in her finery. The light white dress contrasted by a blue silk belt is highlighted by the large orange shawl which covers the back and one arm of the model. From the light background stands out the long delicate and opaline neck crowned by a slightly bent face, of great tenderness.