Alexandre Cabanel was probably one of the most popular and famous artists of the Second Empire (1852-1870). As a painter of mythological scenes and a fashionable portrait artist, he was appreciated by Napoleon III and other European rulers. His style, which he preserved throughout his life, always appealed to the taste of his elite customers. Cabanel remained popular in the Republic, as well. He had numerous requests for exquisite female portraits and paintings of femmes fatales of the past. According to one of Cabanel’s contemporaries, his ability to convey the “silky skin and thin hands of his models always excited women and irritated other artists”.

His elaborate paintings and sophisticated compositions continue to attract the public’s attention today. “The Portrait of Woman” belonged to an unknown private collection in Moscow until 1917. It is likely that the lady in the painting was a Russian aristocrat, as noble families often ordered portraits from Cabanel. The obvious strengths of this artwork are the smooth painting, artfully elaborated details, precisely conveyed texture of objects, and conventional beauty of the model’s face.