Camelia

A young woman in seventeenth-century dress, dark hat with a jeweled feather, red curls and a pearl necklace, sits within a painted frame, holding a flower in her lace-cuffed hand. On a ledge before her stand a blue-and-white plate with a lemon, a porcelain cup, a tall engraved silver pitcher, and a botanical illustration labeled with the camellia's name.

Muted greens and warm ochres set off the sitter's pale skin and auburn hair, the trompe-l'oeil frame and finely rendered objects recalling old-master still life. Smooth, detailed handling and quiet lighting give the scene a composed, contemplative, antique stillness.