Today I was (am) in more than usual need of something beautiful. It occurred to me to try Google Art, and so I proceeded to that site. Somewhat to my surprise, I rather quickly found a portrait that seemed a real candidate. As I looked at it through the extraordinary Google Art zoom feature, I could feel myself relaxing, that invariable, telling physical response to the truly beautiful.
I've postponed giving the title of the work and the artist's name because both of them are quite surprising, although in different ways. You might be -- as I was -- prejudiced against the lady who is portrayed, and thus dismiss the work without really looking. Please don't, as the portrait is truly fine.
And so to revelation: the work in question is Marie Antoinette with a Rose, painted in 1783.
For me, the first surprise was that a portrait of that lady exists which could defensibly be deemed beautiful. My second surprise was that the artist was a woman, Louise Elisabeth Vigée-Lebrun. Who knew?
Remember: you'll need to zoom in order really to appreciate this work.
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