Artist: Circle of Carlos Luis de Ribera (Rome, 1815 - Madrid, 1891)
Title: Portrait of a Lady
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 74 x 57.5 cm
Condition: The painting has been relined. It presents damages, repainting, and some areas with color peeling.

Description:
This "Portrait of a Lady" dates to around 1850 and is attributed to the circle of Carlos Luis de Ribera, a prominent Spanish painter of the 19th century. The painting captures a regal woman, her confident gaze directed at the viewer. She is portrayed against a neutral background, with only her torso visible, which emphasizes her poised and commanding presence. Despite her high social standing, suggested by her elegant attire and refined hairstyle, the lady is depicted with minimal adornment, wearing only a pair of small earrings.

The composition adheres to classical portraiture traditions, yet the tones and aesthetics reflect the Romanticism of the period. The subject's pale complexion and the simplicity of the setting highlight the artist's focus on the emotional depth and character of the sitter rather than material wealth.

Carlos Luis de Ribera, the son of the painter Juan Antonio Ribera, was closely connected with the upper echelons of society, even having Charles IV and Maria Luisa of Parma as his godparents. He demonstrated exceptional artistic talent from a young age, winning first prize at the San Fernando Academy at fifteen. He later became an honorary painter to Queen Isabella II, and his work primarily focused on portraiture, with occasional forays into religious and literary subjects. His style was rooted in the French academic tradition, with a strong emphasis on drawing and classical principles.

Ribera's career included significant exhibitions in Paris, the San Fernando Academy, and the National Fine Arts Exhibitions. He also undertook large-scale fresco projects, such as the ceiling of the cabinet of ministers and the vault of the assembly hall of the Congress of Deputies, as well as work in the basilica of San Francisco el Grande in Madrid.

This description provides insight into both the painting and the artist, linking the work to Carlos L