Album of 36 Original Watercolors and Gouache Paintings of One Upper Crust Hispanic Woman Engaged in Various Leisure and Sporting Activities

1872. Heavy Morocco. Very Good. 4to. 31 by 24 cm. The watercolors or gouaches are mounted onto the heavy card leaves of the album. Each measures 12 by 9 cm. They are very fully, richly painted. Depicted is the woman playing croquet, holding a fan, dancing ballet, ice skating, walking, balancing on a high wire, at prayer, in riding habit, playing a guitar, mountain climbing, at the theater, punting, wading in water, shooting a bow, etc. In some of the paintings she is merely modeling an extravagant costume. While much of the dress was undoubtedly the latest cosmopolitan fashion coming out of Paris, there is enough that has a specifically Spanish flavor, and this combined with explicit Catholic references and in keeping with her facial features, leads one to conclude with confidence that she was Hispanic, and in fact, probably South American. The artwork has a naive quality, but this might have been also cultivated by the artist, who was at the same time unstinting in rendering fine details in dress. While the hair color could vary, all the paintings are modeled clearly on one woman, who might be described as striking as opposed to beautiful, even compensating for the evolution in notions of feminine beauty. Given the number of paintings depicting her dancing in tutu, one might surmise she was a professional dancer. Certainly, if this represented her lifestyle, she never lacked for activity. Of social historic interest is the sheer variety of sports that one woman participated in. Also of interest is the exquisite rendering of the gowns and dresses. Minor soiling.