Giovanni Boldini (Ferrara 1842-1931 Paris)

The inscription on the verso identifies the sitter as Emilia Boldini Cardona (1899-1977), a journalist whom the artist met late in his life, and who, despite their significant age difference (almost 60 years), became his wife and occasional muse. Following Boldini's death, Cardona went on to write his biography and to organize exhibitions of his work.