Lady with Basket filled with Fruits. Louis-Marie Autissier
1814
watercolor and gouache on ivory
12.7 × 10.6 cm (5 × 4.2 in)
The Tansey Collection of Miniatures, Celle
Accession number Ref.No.: 10.05, Kat.No.: 2002-15
Notes
English: This picture is a so-called "type portrait", a portrait showing typical figures from everyday life in an representation idealized by allegoric decoration. The sitter in this miniature from the Tansey Collection - a sitter whom Autissier painted several times (See exhibition catalogue Brussels, 1995, p. 19, fig. 1, 18 and 42) - carries a fruit basket over her arm and is placed before a partly dilapidated wall. These elements form a symbolism reminding of the Vanitas pictures in Dutch Baroque painting which Autissier had got to know in Belgium and during his journeys through the Netherlands Even though there is no specific reference, Autissier's miniatures refer to Dutch Vanitas painting. Type portraits were very popular during the whole 19th century.. The contemplative representation is emphasized by the autumnal colour palette. Autissier reproduced the different materials with great naturalism: the soft peach strongly contrasts with the hard peel of the pear while the heavy fabrics contrast with the wickerwork. Autissier paid great attention to the details and created expressive pictures.
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Hellenica World - Scientific Library
