Profile of a Female Figure (possibly Joan of Arc / Jehanne la Pucelle)
Painting on wooden panel (small cabinet format) • Italian School (17th Century); possibly circle of Francesco Furini or Sisto Badalocchio, or a French follower of the Caravaggisti style.
Style & Movement
Baroque (Italianate or French School) showing influences of Tenebrism and Leonardesque sfumato revival.
Medium & Technique
Oil on panel employing sfumato, soft glazing, and delicate chiaroscuro to achieve misty transitions and atmospheric depth.
Creation Period
circa 1630-1650
Dimensions & Format
19cm x 15.8cm; Small-scale Portrait format
Subject Description
A profile portrait of a young woman looking upward, possibly meant to represent Joan of Arc in a moment of divine inspiration. The composition emphasizes emotional interiority and spiritual devotion through the soft focus and upward gaze.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the work has been professionally cleaned and stabilized.
Estimated Market Value
USD 4,000 - 7,000 (depending on definitive identification of the sitter/school)
Auction Estimate
GBP 2,500 - 4,500
Provenance History
Formerly in a private French collection; subsequently acquired from a private London collection.
Art Historical Significance
The work reflects the 17th-century fascination with delicate, emotive female profiles. If the identification as Joan of Arc is accurate, it represents an early post-Renaissance interest in the iconography of the Maid of Orléans before the 19th-century boom.
Notable Features
Exquisite use of sfumato that eliminates harsh outlines; notable for its small, intimate ‘cabinet painting’ scale which suggests it was intended for private devotional use or a personal gallery.
Condition Issues
Evidence of historical surface wear consistent with age; minor retouching noted during recent conservation; stabilized wood support.
Conservation Recommendations
Maintain in a climate-controlled environment with stable humidity to prevent panel warping. Display away from direct sunlight; existing UV-satin varnish should be periodically inspected.
Collector Notes
Profile of a Female Figure (possibly Joan of Arc or Arc Jehanne la Pucelle) Type Painting on wooden panel & Medium Oil with sfumato and soft glazing techniques. Characterized by blended transitions of light and shadow and a misty, atmospheric finish. Period circa 1630-1650 Dimensions 19cm × 15.8cm; Portrait format The painting was acquired from a private London collection as Italian School 17th century and formerly in a private French collection. The painting has recently undergone cleaning , minor retouching in a few areas and anti - uv satin conservation revarnishing