Same Dame?

Louis Boilly, The Artist's Wife in His Studio. Oil painting. Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.

Great catch!
I just recently featured a Young Woman Ironing, painted by the artist Boilly, and reader Sara aka @lili_bird noticed that the lady in Boilly's painting of his wife looks very similar. 
What do you think? Is it the same dame?


9 comments:

  1. It very well could be. They look so similar. Its the eyes. The face shape is slightly different.

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  2. The shape of the nose and chin look a little different but the hair and eyes are almost exactly the same! Though because of the distinct long flat shape of the nose it must be her or a relative.

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  3. artandhockey5:37 PM

    Possibly. One looks as if painted through a veil, the other is much starker. Just ran across your blog and enjoy it. Love art but have no training in any form of it.. sigh!

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  4. Yay!....oops, I mean yes....definitely.

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  5. I am on the fence over it! It could be....

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  6. Could be...the lady ironing looks a little older and housework weary!

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  7. Perhaps a relation but...not only are their noses and chins different, but also their bustlines! The laundress is definitely more well endowed.

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  8. My guess would be yes! And I love your posts! They are fun and informative! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Tee

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  9. That is quite fascinating! I would venture to guess that he did hire her to be the young woman ironing and then married her :)

    They do look very similar in the eyes and nose region, even the hair parted on her forehead looks the same. I think the difference in dress could be two different styles, or one is more of a state of undress? Perhaps the young woman is ironing her gown.

    Very interesting!

    I have heard that models were hired for paintings just as they are hired today for photos.

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