Marie-Yolande de Fitz-James1867 · Study 1982.256

Context from the museum

This portrait depicts Marie-Yolande de Fitz-James, the 12-year-old daughter of Édouard de Fitz-James. Fantin-Latour painted a series of portraits of her family members in preparation for a large group portrait that was never completed. The sitter is elegantly dressed in a pink and white dress, identical to one worn by her elder sister, Françoise, for her portrait. Marie-Yolande wears no jewelry and her hair is styled more simply, as would have been suitable for a girl of her age at the time.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Fantin-Latour, known for his portraits and flower still lifes, never shared the artistic viewpoint of his friends and contemporaries, the Impressionists. He remained a traditional academic painter throughout his career and the style of this portrait reflects the romanticism of an earlier generation.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Marie-Yolande de Fitz-James is 42.2 cm wide and 50.2 cm high, equivalent to approximately 16.6 × 19.8 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.84:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.21 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 14.1% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 128.9 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Marie-Yolande de Fitz-James in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on fabric, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 42.2 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?