The Louvre painting of the young girl reading a letter in one of several that Raoux painted, each quite similar to the others. Raoux was skilled at the depiction of light, both direct and reflected. While the letter and the girl’s chest are illuminated, her face is mostly shaded, although her chin, part of her left cheek, and her left ear are bright with light. (http://books0977.tumblr.com/post/147418284777/la-liseuse-first-half-18th-century-jean-raoux)