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Peasant Girl with Distaff – Pastel on paper, 1860
Signed “Amelia”, Paris, 1860 – Original oval gilt frame
A refined portrait executed in pastel on stretched paper, signed and dated “Amelia 1860”, likely the work of a female artist from the cultured bourgeois milieu of mid-19th century France.
The subject, a young Italian peasant woman (quite possibly from the Ciociaria region), is depicted in the act of spinning with a spindle and distaff – the traditional wooden tool used to hold raw fiber before it is drawn out into thread. This simple yet evocative gesture, deeply rooted in rural tradition, conveys an image of industriousness, domestic calm, and a timeless connection to the rhythms of life.
Her traditional attire – rendered with exquisite attention to detail, from the white blouse and fitted bodice to the jewelry and headscarf – reflects the Romantic fascination with southern European folklore, which was highly fashionable in Second Empire Paris.
An embossed stamp on the reverse reads:
"Spécialité de Pastels et d’Encadrements – M. et L’HURIER, Rue Vivienne, près le Bonf – GHENYHOUIN Successeur – Vente et Location"
It confirms the painting’s origin in the Parisian atelier of M. et L’Hurier, located on Rue Vivienne – a hub of artistic and commercial activity in the city. The mention of Ghenyhouin as successor places the work within a professional network specializing in pastel portraiture and fine framing.
The piece is set in its original oval gilt frame, elegantly shaped and perfectly suited to the softness of the subject and the decorative function it was clearly intended to fulfill.
- Material: Pastel on paper mounted on stretcher
- Size: cm 73x88h
- Condition: Restored
- Period: Second half of the 19th century
- State: Optimal conditions
