Marcel Perrot (XIX-XX) - Portrait de femme, 1912

Marcel Perrot (19th–20th centuries)
Portrait of a Woman, 1912

Oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1912.

An interesting female portrait by Marcel Perrot, a French painter active between the late 19th and early 20th centuries, whose known work falls within the figurative painting and academic portrait traditions of his time.

The work depicts an elderly woman, shown from the bust up and turned slightly toward the viewer. The understated clothing and background focus all attention on the face, which forms the true psychological and luminous center of the composition.

Perrot renders the features with visible, relatively free brushwork. The ochres, earth tones, pinks, and warm flesh tones contrast with the deep blacks and browns that dominate the dress and surroundings. The treatment of the hair is particularly interesting: it is executed with glazes and grayish, ochre, and bluish brushstrokes that shape its volume without resorting to overly rigid drawing.

The face reflects a desire for individual and psychological characterization. The serious, restrained gaze, together with the expression of the mouth and the light concentrated on the forehead, cheeks, and nose, gives the figure a striking presence. The execution avoids excessive idealization and preserves the signs of the sitter’s age.

A small oval brooch stands out against the dark dress, a point of light that deliberately breaks up the large black mass of the clothing and contributes to the composition’s color balance.

Stylistically, the painting maintains a clear continuity with the French portrait tradition of the 19th century, while incorporating the freer, more concise brushwork characteristic of painting in the early 20th century. The result combines the restraint of traditional portraiture with a more modern, directly painterly execution.

The work is clearly signed “M. Perrot” and dated “1912” in the upper-right corner; both inscriptions are in a reddish tone and are perfectly integrated into the painted surface.

Marcel Perrot remains an artist about whom little is documented in the available biographical sources, so it is prudent to avoid assigning specific dates of birth and death in the absence of conclusive documentation. However, other works attributed to the artist are known on the art market, including figurative and Orientalist compositions.

Condition

The painting shows signs consistent with its age, including craquelure, wear, small losses of paint, and various surface alterations visible in the photographs, particularly in certain areas along the lower edge. We recommend examining the images carefully; they form an integral part of the description and make it possible to assess the work’s current condition.

The work is currently framed.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FRAME

The frame shown in the photographs is included with the work as a GIFT only. For valuation purposes, the frame is not part of the lot, has no assigned commercial value, and is included solely as a courtesy to the buyer.

The frame also shows signs of age, wear, and various defects. Any damage occurring exclusively to the frame during shipping cannot be grounds for a claim or affect the valuation of the purchased work.

The work will be carefully and professionally packed using suitable materials to provide the greatest possible protection during shipping.

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