This portrait of an unknown lady is a lucky find for me. Ever since Elle Decor published designer Jean Louis Denoit’s Paris apartment, I have been fascinated with his way of mixing eighteenth-century portraits with rich contemporary settings. So I decided to be unoriginal and copy this concept. My painting is by François Joseph Heim, and going by the style of her attire and accessories, it was most likely painted between 1805 and 1810. Since he was born in 1787, this would have been created very early in his career. To see a closer view of her, click on the link below.