Description

A quietly striking oval portrait of an unidentified woman, painted in the late 19th century. She wears the deep black and high lace collar typical of Victorian formal or mourning dress, fastened with a period mourning-style brooch — details that place the painting in the 1870s–1890s. The work is unsigned and carries no inscription, so she remains, honestly, an anonymous face from someone’s family line rather than a documented sitter.

The portrait is set in its original carved and gilded gesso frame, with acanthus-leaf corner ornament and a beaded sight edge. The gilding shows honest wear for its age, including old repaired losses at the corners (visible in photos), and the surround has scattered areas of gilt loss consistent with a piece this old. Structurally sound, cosmetically well-worn — sold as a decorative period piece, not a restored showpiece.

Painting is on still cardboard, quote possibly a photo that was painted over.

Overall Size: 16.75″H x 14.75″W
Art: 9″H x 7.25″W