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October 31, 1960.

Miss Muriel Francis 
116 East 65th Street 
New York, New York

8565 D E G A S Edgar (1834-1917)
"STUDY FOR A PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN"
(Probably portrait of Eva Gonzales, the artist)
Pencil, touch of color on lips and eyes: 1867
11-1/2" x 8-3/4"

Signed center right: "Degas 1867"

Stamp of Degas atelier sale, lower left recto, and below notation "Ph. 2233".

Inscr. on back of original mount: "Oliver Senn". 

Slightly rubbed around neck and top part of the head.

Portrait of a woman turning in a three-quarters view to her right. Her hair is worn in a loose chignon, exposing the fine line of her neck which is set off by the suggestion of a black band. She wears a delicate circular earring in her left ear. Beneath the gentle wisps of straying hair salon her forehead her expression is one of the quiet pensiveness. The neckline of her dress, faintly indicted, fall from her partially revealed shoulders to a lace bodice.

The portrait is classical in it simplicity and in the modelling of the features, accomplished by fine horizontal hatching and curved strokes. It is sensitive and finished protrayal.

S G

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