Oil on Panel by Alix-Louise Enault, 19th Century

Sublime oil on panel by Alix-Louise Enault, representing a young woman with a pearl necklace and brown hair held back by an arrow (reference to the work of Francisco de Goya, "Portrait of the Spanish Queen Marie-Louise de Bourbon-Parme (1751 - 1819)", circa 1800).

The wooden frame sublimating this work, richly decorated with oak leaves and acorns,
has been entirely restored and gilded with gold leaf, as in the original. Each acorn has been meticulously polished, giving shine to the imposing frame and light to the painting.

Period : XIXth century - Circa : 1895
Dimensions : H :55,5 x W :41 cm (canvas with frame) - H :21.9 x W : 16.1cm (canvas alone)
Signature : Top right

Alix Marie Bardin was born in Cherbourg on November 1, 1846. She painted under the pseudonym of Melle Alix Duval at the beginning of her career.
After her marriage to Louis Enault (1824-1900), writer and critic at the Paris Salon, she became known as Alix-Louise Enault or simply Mme Louis Enault.
A student of Jean-Baptiste-Ange Tissier and Florent Willems, she made her first exhibition in 1876 at the Paris Salon with a painting entitled "The Invocation of the Bride" and continued to exhibit until 1896.
She became a member of the Salon des Artistes Français in 1885 and received an honorable mention in 1887.
Her creations are very appreciated by the critics and several of her paintings are cited as: "First Mourning", "Farewell", "The Abbess of Jouarre" and "Flowers of the Orient".
She won a bronze medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889.
She died between 1909 and 1913 in Paris, France
  
Alix-Louise Enault is one of the references in the book: "Women Painters of the World, from the time of Caterina Vigri, 1413-1463, to Rosa Bonheur and Today", assembled and manufactured by Walter Shaw Sparrowen (United Kingdom), which gives an overview of leading women painters up to 1905, the year of publication. 

The purpose of the book was to prove that "the achievements of women painters were second rate". The book includes over 300 images of paintings by more than 200 painters, most of whom were born in the 19th century and won medals at various international exhibitions.