Bildnis einer jungen Dame (Marie-Madeleine Guimard ?)

Portrait of a Young Lady (Marie-Madeleine Guimard?, c. 1770-72), in the Bavarian State Painting Collections, is tentatively identified as the celebrated ballerina Marie-Madeleine Guimard (1743-1816), one of the most famous dancers of her era and a major arts patron. Fragonard renders the sitter with characteristic warmth and fluid brushwork, creating an image of feminine beauty and vivacity. The identification with Guimard reflects the close relationship between the visual arts and performing arts in eighteenth-century Parisian culture.

The luminous complexion and elegant costume are rendered with Fragonard's characteristic warmth and fluidity. The portrait captures an air of vivacious sophistication appropriate to its likely subject.