Provenance: Private Collection, United Kingdom.
NOTE:
The son of well-known artist Charles Soulacroix (1825-1900), Frédéric Soulacroix excelled at painting detailed, realistic depictions of elegant figures in 18th and 19th century costume. His subjects are typically engaged in such pursuits as conversing and sharing secrets, relaxing, courtship, reflecting, enjoying tea and playing music. Soulacroix was a master at painting beautifully dressed members of French high society at leisure and in refined settings - mostly indoors, or more rarely, as in the present work, outdoors - with meticulous detail and with an emphasis on luxurious settings and accoutrements, along with shimmering satins and silks. Soulacroix was a prodigy: at the age of 15 he entered the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, and was admitted to the Scuola di Pittura just three years later.