Portrait of an Elderly Lady

This Portrait of an Elderly Lady at the Walters Art Museum, painted in 1820, belongs to David's late period in Brussels. The sitter's identity is uncertain, but the sympathetic rendering of age and dignified bearing suggests a woman of David's social circle during his exile years. David's austere oil technique rejected all Rococo softness in favor of a firm, sculptural handling that emphasized drawing over color—figures modelled like antique reliefs against neutral backgrounds, inspired by...

David treats the effects of aging with frank but respectful observation — lines, shadows, and the loosening of flesh are recorded without sentimentality or cruelty. The palette is warm and subdued, with the dark background pushing the luminous face forward.