Continental School, Young Woman with Fruit, 19th Century

The painter of this portrait is unrecorded. The sitter's dress, with a rose headscarf, gold earrings and a pendant on a fine chain, suggests southern Europe. The handling is direct and unpolished, in the manner of provincial portraiture.

A young woman sits with her hands loosely folded, one resting on a ledge beside peaches and a dish of dark grapes. She wears a brown shawl edged in blue over a white chemise, and turns her head with a slight, knowing smile. Behind her are dark trees and a pale blue sky.

Oil on canvas, unsigned and unframed. Wear consistent with age, with fine craquelure, rubbing, scratches and small losses, chiefly at the lower right.