“Portrait of Miss Matthews,” created by Alexandre Cabanel in 1880, is an oil painting exemplary of Academicism, focusing on the genre of portraiture. The artwork features a young woman depicted with remarkable elegance and subtle emotional depth. Cabanel employs a dark background to accentuate the figure of Miss Matthews, who is adorned in a delicate light green gown with intricately detailed lace and a bouquet of roses pinned near her shoulder. Her hands are gently clasped at her waist, and her gaze is directed forward, bestowing the painting with an air of quiet introspection. The skillful rendering of textures and the refined color palette highlight Cabanel’s mastery and adherence to the ideals of Academicism.
