Exceptional Oval Portrait of a Young Girl with Flowers by Antonio Pascutti (1832-1892) - 36½" x 28¼"

A beautiful medium-scale oval oil on canvas portrait by Antonio Pascutti (1832–1892), Italian painter active in France during the Second Empire. The sitter is a young girl shown full length, her wide youthful eyes and softly blushed cheeks lending a tender immediacy to the portrait. She is dressed in an ivory gown with pale apricot bands, puffed sleeves, and a generous side bow, and wears a coral bead necklace and bracelets, patterned stockings, and black strap shoes. In one hand she holds a fresh bouquet, while the other presents three roses at different stages of bloom - bud, half-open, and fully blossomed- symbolizing innocence, youth, and the passage of time. A few leaves have fallen to her feet, lending subtle movement and poignancy to the composition. The subdued olive-brown ground sets off a gentle palette of creams, blush pinks, and fresh greens. Condition is very good, with light craquelure, a timeworn surface, and minor rubbing at the edges, and the canvas is presented unframed.

Portraits of children flourished in the mid-19th century as emblems of lineage, sentiment, and domestic pride, often adopting the fashionable oval format favored in both Italian and French circles. The costume reflects the crinoline silhouette of the 1850s–60s, while coral jewelry, popular across Europe, was thought to guard children from harm. Pascutti, who exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon and specialized in portraits and genre scenes, was praised for his academic technique softened by a lyrical sense of color. His handling here combines naturalistic modeling with delicate detailing of fabrics and flowers, epitomizing refined Second Empire taste.

This portrait lends warmth and grace to an entry, stair hall, or sitting room, and hangs beautifully above a console, mantel, or writing desk. Its soft palette complements neutral textiles and antique wood, and it pairs seamlessly with Napoleon III furniture, gilded mirrors, or even contemporary upholstery for a balanced and sophisticated mix. Frame in a gilt oval for a formal display, or hang unframed for a more relaxed presentation in a bedroom, nursery, or library.