François-Joseph NAVEZ (1787 - 1869)

Young woman with child asleep in her arms, ca. 1825 Oil on canvas 58 x 47 cm "The theme of a woman holding a sick or sleeping child has been represented many times by Navez. He used it most frequently in his paintings of Italian subjects. However, this is not the case with this "Young woman in profile with a sleeping child in her arms" which should be added to his catalog (ill. 27). This time, the painter did not try to introduce any exotic or picturesque note: it is simply a young mother, probably from Brussels, whom he has depicted in profile, with great truth, looking slightly upwards. One can recognize his very characteristic way of drawing with precision the outline of his model's features which stand out against the background. As for the modeling, it is careful and delicate. The workmanship as seen in this painting is frank and free. It is delicate when it comes to rendering the softness of the skin, the brightness of the eyes or the tenderness of the lips, it becomes virtuoso to render the mixed colors of the shawl or the background quickly brushed with gray tones, luminous, which refer to the technique rubbed with a light brush learned from his master David." Denis Coekelberghs, La Tribune de l'Art, Friday February 29, 2008. Provenance : Private collection.