Mid-Century Miniature Oil Painting of a Seated Nude with Gold Leaf Background

This is a small-scale, rectangular oil painting on a substrate prepared with a textured gold leaf or metallic gilt background. The composition features a semi-nude female figure in a classical, romanticized style. She is depicted seated amongst white drapery, partially covered by a loosely knotted white cloth, and holds a small metallic or ceramic vessel. Her hair is dark and voluminous, adorned with a small pink flower. The background is minimalist, consisting of dark, sweeping brushstrokes that suggest foliage or a decorative screen. The brushwork is expressive and fluid, particularly in the drapery and the flesh tones, which utilize a palette of peaches, creams, and soft pinks. A signature, which appears to read 'Zaneri' or similar, is located in red in the lower right-hand corner. The painting is housed in a thin, simple gilt wood frame which is set into a larger linen-wrapped mat. The style is indicative of the mid-20th century (circa 1950s-1970s), often sold as decorative gallery boutique items. Regarding condition, the metallic background shows some fine craquelure and minor surface dust. The frame has light scuffing and loss of gilt consistent with age, particularly along the edges and corners. The linen matting shows light discoloration and some fraying at the borders of the frame-within-a-frame construction.