Italian Woman (La Morieri)

Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot

National Gallery of Art

This painting shows a woman sitting, her body facing the left and her head turned to look at us, with one arm resting on a wooden surface on the right. She has dark hair partially covered by a bright yellow scarf or cap, light skin, deep-set eyes, pale eyebrows, and thin lips set in a neutral expression. She wears a white blouse with wide sleeves that is partially covered by a black bodice with a wide red neckline. Her skirt is black, although in the front she appears to be covered by a blanket or apron with colorful abstract designs in red, tan, and green, with some horizontal black stripes. She also wears large silver hoop earrings, multiple silver necklaces, and a silver ring on her hand. The background is a blend of muted green and brown tones, with a hint of pale blue in the upper left corner.