UNKNOWN MASTER, French
(active second half of 18th century)

Old Woman with a Muff

1750-1800
Oil on canvas, 81 x 65 cm
National Gallery of Art, Washington

Formerly this portrait was attributed to Chardin. However, there is nothing of Chardin's characteristic handling in this painting, instead, there is a relatively fussy and somewhat hard treatment, altogether alien to Chardin's painterly manner. Most likely the painting is the work of a yet-unidentified painter working in the French provinces, and it remains a fine example of French provincial portraiture of the second half of the eighteenth century.