French Portrait Mysterious lady 19th century Oil painting Acknowledged master ^Sale

Unsigned but attributed to acknowledged master Francois-Xavier Fabre (François-Xavier Fabre, 1766 – 1837), French painter of historical subjects. Stylish and perfect portrait of beautiful mature lady believed to be related to Bertin family (Louis-François Bertin 1766 - 1841, est un journaliste et écrivain politique français) of Napoleonic period ca 1803-1810. The lady with the same shy half-smile is delightfully plump. The neckline is shyly covered with a transparent scarf, the folds of a silk black dress with a sky-colored shawl are perfectly conveyed. All the same playful curls of hair on the forehead.
Size app.: 74 x 59.5 cm (roughly 29.1 x 23.4 in). Very Good condition, minimal wear, losses and repairs incl. retouches; edge of canvas relined, conserved. Please study high-res pictures for cosmetic condition! In person actual painting may appear darker or brighter than in our pictures, strictly depending on sufficient light in your environment. Weight of app. 1.8 kg is going to measure some 4 kg volume weight packed for shipment.
Born in Montpellier, Fabre was a pupil of Jacques-Louis David, and made his name by winning the Prix de Rome in 1787. During the French Revolution, Fabre went to live in Florence, becoming a member of the Florentine Academy, where he taught painting. The friends he made in Italy included the dramatist, Vittorio Alfieri, whose widow, Princess Louise of Stolberg-Gedern, Countess of Albany, he is said to have married. On Louise's death in 1824, he inherited her fortune, which he used to found an art school in his home town. On his own death, he bequeathed his own art collection to the town, forming the basis of the Musée Fabre. Fabre began his training in the Montpellier's art academy, where he spent several years prior to joining Jacques-Louis David's studio in Paris. His studies were paid for by the financier and art collector, Philippe-Laurent de Joubert. Philippe-Laurent was the father of Laurent-Nicolas de Joubert. Fabre painted a portrait of Laurent-Nicolas de Joubert, which is now in the Getty Museum. Fabre gained popularity in Florence. The city's Italian aristocrats and tourists were drawn to his elegance, realism, and precision of his portraits. This popularity earned Fabre a place in the Florentine Academy. He became an art teacher, art collector, and art dealer in Florence.