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Dan,
I tend to favor simple backgrounds and would guess this painting would benefit by keeping it uncluttered. I also recommend thumbnails or preliminary roughs as a way of sorting out your options before the start of a painting. As you are now finding out it's harder to make something fit as an afterthought. As Sargent has stated the whole is more important than the pieces.
The background on one side does not relate to the background on the other side. I realize your intent but don't be too obvious with the light against dark and dark against light silhouette attempt.
Good concept and fine start.
(You might might include her right hand. The arm tends to end at the elbow where the armour is finger-like.)
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