"The Reading of the Hand" by Ferdinand Victor Léon Roybet (1840-1920). Ferdinand Roybet, a French painter known for his portraits and genre scenes. His work often depicted costumed figures in 16th and 17th-century settings with fine detail and a theatrical flair. The painting captures a playful or flirtatious scene between a man in a feathered hat and a large ruff collar, and a woman in a simple dress. The man, possibly a musketeer, is holding the woman's hand and appears to be "reading" her palm, a common theme in 19th-century genre paintings. Roybet's work was influenced by the Old Masters, particularly Flemish painters like Rubens and Jacob Jordaens, and Spanish artists like Velazquez. This influence is visible in his use of rich color, firm brushwork, and attention to detail in the costumes.