Portrait of Countess Marie de Riznitch-Keller, later Marquise de Saint-Yves d’Alveydre (Comtesse de Keller) Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889)

This is a formal, three-quarter length portrait of a woman seated, likely in an ornate chair, against a dark, almost black, background. She is depicted with a somber expression, directly engaging the viewer. Her dark hair is styled elaborately, adorned with a plume of feathers and a jewel. She wears long pearl earrings and a bracelet on her right arm. Her attire consists of a low, off-the-shoulder gown with a teal or dark green bodice accent, draped with a white cloth and a dark fur stole. Her right hand rests near her chest, adorned with a ring on her index finger. The overall impression is one of elegance, wealth, and a reserved, perhaps melancholic, disposition.
The subtext of the painting lies in the portrayal of aristocracy and its associated aesthetics. The opulent fur, the pearl earrings, the elaborate hairstyle, and the rich fabrics speak to the sitters social standing and wealth. Her direct gaze, yet subdued expression, might suggest an inner world or a sense of burden that often accompanies such elevated status. The dark background isolates her, emphasizing her presence and perhaps her isolation within her social sphere. The painting functions as a testament to her identity and position, rendered with a sophisticated, almost classical, artistic technique, common in the depiction of nobility and high society.