A Young Woman who has just Received a Letter from her Husband. Her Father is looking on a Globe for the Distance from Which the Letter Came. A Lady reading a letter from her Husband, Marguerite Gérard, circa 1808

Marguerite gérard, a young woman just received a letter from her spouse. On the globe, her father seeks the distance whence the letter was sent (salon of 1808) the scene takes place in a small study. A woman is standing and reading a letter while caressing a small dog. Near her, a man of a certain age is seated. Compass in hand, he leans on the large globe of the world under which a cat is stretched out. The two protagonists wear clothes inspired by the 17th century, namely the man’s black jacket with a large collar and cuffs in lace, and the maiden’s light grey satin dress with its wide sleeves and marked waistline. With great subtlety, the caspar netscher type ambience is embellished with an empire armchair, the study’s wood paneling dissimulating library cupboards, and the woman’s face with the beauty of an antique statue. Object Type: painting. Genre: genre art. Date: circa 1808. Place of creation: France. Dimensions: height: 61 cm (24 in); width: 50.5 cm (19.8 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Collection: Nationalmuseum. Marguerite Gérard - A Young Woman Just Received a Letter from Her Husband