Quite a beauty, and beautifully painted, but what really makes this for me is her having been painted on the central panel of a much used large cabinet (I believe) door. As such, her looking-over-her-shoulder pose seems very much one of waiting and keeping watch--and to have opened this door would have been to directly meet her gaze. (To me she looks a bit weary of it all, too, as if thinking "you again?") She seems to me much more of the sort to have lived in a public place than a private home--I keep imagining this as one of a series of portrait-painted doors in a tavern or the like: delights for the eyes but again I think portrayed with a certain knowingness about her, as much of a leave-me-alone as a come-hither, at least to my eye!
27 7/8" x 18 9/16" x 1". Painting itself in good condition, plenty of all over wear to the door, all to the good I think. Sturdy and sound, very rich patina to the wood, which I believe is well older than than painting--the latter late 19th c. or so, I believe.
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