Melancholy Italian Woman (Rome) (Italienne mélancolique [Rome])

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FROM THE BARNES FOUNDATION’S CATALOG

Although best known for his landscapes, Corot also painted several portraits during his career. This composition, created during the artist's first trip to Rome, from 1825 to 1827, depicts a young woman with a pensive gaze. Along with other paintings from this period, this work reveals Corot's interest in using simple figure studies as artistic exercises. While developing his technical abilities, he began to include emotional and psychological dimensions in his portraits, such as the melancholic expression seen here.

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