A Young Lady in a Yellow Gown with Blue Ribbons

Art Historical Context

Jean-Baptiste Perronneau’s *A Young Lady in a Yellow Gown with Blue Ribbons* (c. 1767) exemplifies the refined elegance of eighteenth-century French portraiture. Working primarily in pastel, Perronneau was celebrated for his ability to capture the individuality and quiet presence of his sitters with remarkable sensitivity. Here, the young woman’s fashionable yellow gown accented by blue ribbons suggests the graceful tastes of the period just before the French Revolution. The choice of pastel on blue laid paper mounted to canvas was especially suited to such intimate portraits. Pastel allowed artists to blend colors softly and achieve luminous effects on skin and fabric, while the cool blue paper subtly enhances the warmth of the yellow tones. Measuring roughly 24 by 20 inches, the work feels both delicate and immediate. Now part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection through the generosity of Ian Woodner, this drawing offers visitors a vivid window into the material world and social aspirations of mid-eighteenth-century France.