A confident and loosely painted portrait of an Ottoman beauty by well collected Italian artist, Cesare Felix Georges Dell’Acqua (b. 1821- d. 1905). The subject in the portrait was most likely his muse and daughter who was a well known Belgian composer and singer Eva Dell’Acqua. Decked out in tasteful gold hoop earrings and bangles, silk robe, and blank satin slippers with a tiny bow, she reclines with a coy smile. 

Signed “Cesare Dell’Acqua” in upper right corner

Medium: oil on wood panel

Size of support: 9 3/8” x 6 13/16” Outside size of frame: 20 3/4” x 18 9/16”

Year of creation: c. 1860-1870

Condition notes: The painting surface is freshly cleaned and a new varnish applied. There are no losses to the paint layer, no inpaint, remarkably excellent condition. The original frame has small areas of gesso loss, some age related shrinking of mitres. The gilding is gorgeous. 

High auction result: $1,915,555 at Bonham’s Bond Street