The photograph, Paris, c.1891, is included in a book called ‘La France Noire’, which is filled with images representing three centuries of black presence in France.

The striking beauty featured is thought to be Selika Lazevski, an écuyère (horsewoman) who performed high level dressage. The écuyères rode side saddle in circuses and hippodromes, and were widely respected for their skills as horsewomen.