Ernestine-Frederique, Princesse de Croy Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755-1842)

The portrait presents a young woman in a three-quarter view, set against a dark background that emphasizes her figure and attire. She is positioned slightly off-center within an oval frame, a common format for portraits of the era, lending a sense of formality and contained elegance. The composition directs attention to her face and upper torso, with the rest of her body largely obscured by the flowing fabric of her gown.
The artist has rendered the woman’s complexion with delicate pink hues, suggesting youthfulness and health. Her gaze is direct yet somewhat subdued, conveying a sense of quiet dignity rather than overt display. The lips are subtly painted, contributing to an overall impression of restrained emotion.
Her hairstyle dominates the upper portion of the composition. Its elaborately constructed, featuring voluminous curls arranged in a high, asymmetrical style characteristic of late eighteenth-century fashion. A cluster of pink roses is nestled within the hair, introducing a touch of naturalism and potentially symbolizing love or beauty. The meticulous detail applied to the rendering of the hair suggests its importance as a marker of status and refinement.
The gown itself is noteworthy for its lightness and transparency. It appears to be made of a delicate fabric that reveals glimpses of the skin beneath, hinting at an underlying sensuality tempered by the formality of the pose and the high neckline tied in a bow. The soft folds of the material are skillfully depicted, creating a sense of movement and texture.
The background is loosely painted with indistinct foliage, providing depth without distracting from the central figure. This blurred backdrop reinforces the focus on the woman herself, isolating her within the frame.
Subtly, the portrait conveys an impression of aristocratic status through the elaborate hairstyle, refined attire, and formal pose. The roses may allude to ideals of feminine beauty and virtue prevalent in the period. However, the somewhat melancholic expression and restrained gaze introduce a layer of complexity, suggesting perhaps a quiet introspection or a sense of underlying vulnerability beneath the surface of societal expectations. The overall effect is one of carefully constructed elegance combined with an undercurrent of subtle emotional depth.