2021-04-24 20:53:22
The woman in the portrait is partially hidden by a black silk veil. Beneath the veil she is dressed for a special occasion in white lace and pink silk. The dress is in the style of Bologna.
During the 18th century, the upper class spent a lot of their free time dressing in disguise and acting to pass time.
There are many anonymous portraits of women in collections around the world. Often they have been part of a pair of portraits of man and wife – so called pendant portraits. It is not unusual for such portraits to have become separated over the years.
And since the influence of the women has been underestimated in writing the history of art, their names and identities have often been forgotten.
For this reason, many of Roslin’s portraits now bear the title “Unknown Woman”.
But «The Lady with the Veil» is not one of these forgotten women. Because she was Alexander Roslin’s wife. She was a portrait artist herself Marie Suzanne Giroust and she was born in France.
Fans were not just a practical item for social gatherings. Fans could also be used for sending secret messages. There were numerous ways of holding, opening and closing fans. Each way meant something specific. The lady with the veil has folded her fan and is using it to stroke her cheek. This might mean: I love you!
The meaning of fan language differes in different cultures. And Asian cultures undoubtedly have a more extensive "vocabulary".
In this case the receiver of this massage form the beloved is the painter himself.
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