Julius Paulsen, Portrait Of A Young Woman Reading

Julius Paulsen, Portrait Of A Young Woman ReadingThis early 20th century portrait of a woman reading by Julius Paulsen combines a quiet moment of focus with an abundance of textured colour. Here we see a young lady reading by a window looking down with the book held a little forward to catch the light. Her skin tones are awash with various marks intelligent daubs that are characteristically Paulsens. She's painted with a controlled sense of spirit yet the overall atmosphere is calm. The portrait is

She wears a white dress with a red wrap and holds her treasured Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

He was a student of Ernest Hébert (1817-1908) and Charles Jalabert (1819-1901) who both worked in a polished academic style

Why is she sitting with her back turned to the window

His style fits alongside other portraits from the 1880s when collars were stiff and bow ties were popular

He was trained by the great Carolus Duran (1837-1917) who also taught John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)

Restored and relined

The painting is housed within a period frame and signed in the lower right

000 achieved for ‘The Nearest Way in Summer Time’ at Christie’s in 2000

Originally created in 1812 by Franz Klein

943 achieved for ‘Le Jardin Des Tuileries’ at auction in 1990

EnglandCondition: Very presentable

This wasn’t entirely true but perhaps his optimistic escapism overcame the reality