Johann Josef Leyendecker

JOHANN JOSEF LEYENDECKER (Germany, 1810-1867)
"Lady," ca. 1850.
Oil on canvas.
Signed in the right margin.
Restored.
Measurements: 115 x 87 cm; 138 x 108 cm (frame).

The painting that we show presents a young woman of distinguished bearing who poses standing, wrapped in the exquisite elegance of a blue silk damask dress. The garment, tight at the torso and unfolded in a skirt of impeccable pleats, is covered by a row of large silver buttons that emphasize its refined tailoring. The artist's technical refinement is evident in the meticulous rendering of the textures and qualities of the fabrics: the subtle transparencies of the collar and tulle sleeves, ethereal and delicate, contrast with the richness of the main fabric. On her wrist, a wedding bracelet, from which hangs a second ring in the suggestive shape of handcuffs, adds a discreet symbolism to the composition. Her serene face with an introspective expression is framed by dense black hair, carefully combed with a middle parting, falling on both sides in symmetrical perfection. His gaze, deep and somewhat melancholic, is accentuated by the almond-shaped dark eyes. The hands, with long and elegant fingers, exhibit a gold ring on the middle finger, a detail that adds to the narrative of the image a possible allusion to her marital status or a sentimental bond.

This is probably one of the paintings that Johann Josef Leyendecker produced during his Parisian period. It is a magnificent example of nineteenth-century portraiture, where the precision in the representation of the fabrics and the delicacy in the facial expression reflect the painter's skill.

Johann Josef Leyendecker was a German painter known for his portraits and family scenes in the 19th century. Born in Dernau an der Ahr, Germany, in 1810, he moved to Paris in 1832 to study at the École des Beaux-Arts under Paul Delaroche and François-Joseph Heim. He participated regularly in the Paris Salon between 1835 and 1848, and again from 1861 to 1867. During the 1850s, Leyendecker worked in the Bonn region of Germany, where he received commissions for religious paintings, including the decoration of the church altar in his hometown of Dernau in 1855. In 1860, he settled permanently in Paris, where he continued his artistic career until his death in 1867. Among his outstanding works are portraits such as "Portrait de M.N.P. Léon B..." (1839) and "Portrait du jeune Al. L..." (1841). In addition, his painting "Episode de l'incendie de Dernau, près Bonn, 1835" was exhibited at the Salon of 1842. Leyendecker is remembered for his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, whether individual portraits or family scenes, reflecting the everyday life of his time.