THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH Grace Dalrymple Elliot (c.1778) Oil on canvas (76 x 63 cm) The Frick Collection, New York To enlarge the image, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" It is very difficult to do justice to Gainsborough's portraits, sometimes it seems that there are not enough words in the English language to …
A Beautiful Girl
JEAN-ETIENNE LIOTARD (1702-1789) Maria Frederike van Reede-Athlone at Seven Years of Age (1755) Pastel on vellum (57 x 43 cm) Paul Getty Museum To enlarge the picture, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" Portraiture reached its most refined and sophisticated state during the 18th century. The number of artists whose chief occupation …
The Musicians’ Brawl
GEORGES DE LA TOUR (1593-1652) The Musicians' Brawl (c. 1625-30) Oil on canvas (86 x 141 cm) Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles To enlarge the picture, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" Born in Lorraine, a place where the Nordic, French and Italian cultures meet; a contemporary of Jacques Callot (1592-1635) and …
Self-portrait
MAURICE QUENTIN DE LA TOUR (1704-1788) Self-portrait (1751) Pastel on paper Amiens, Musee de Picardie To enlarge the picture, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" Maurice Quentin de La Tour showed at a very early age outstanding aptitudes for drawing. At the age of 18, having decided to become an artist, he …
Before the Ball
JEAN-FRANCOIS DE TROY (1679-1752) Before the Ball (1735) Oil on canvas (82 x 63 cm) Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles To enlarge the picture, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" De Troy was a very talented and versatile artist; he was an equally competent draughtsman, easel and fresco painter and tapestry designer. …
The Laundress
JEAN BAPTISTE GREUZE (1725-1805) The Laundress (1761) Oil on canvas (40.5 x 32 cm) Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles To enlarge the picture, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" During the last half of the 18th century, Greuze was the most famous and successful exponent of genre painting in France. He normally …
Master Bunbury
SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS PRA (1723-1792) Master Bunbury (1780-81) Oil on canvas (78 x 64 cm) Philadelphia Museum of Art To enlarge the picture, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" This is one of those paintings whose genesis and the behind-the-scenes story are as interesting as its aesthetical value. Scholars have disagreed over …
Portrait of a Woman
ANTON VAN DYCK (1599-1641) Portrait of a woman (c. 1634-35) Oil on canvas (208 x 118 cm) Windsor Castle, Royal Collection Born in Antwerp, Anton van Dyck was a pupil of Rubens and as such he distinguished himself very early. An early visit to London in 1620-21 during the reign of James I was short-lived …
Mr. and Mrs. Garrick
WILLIAM HOGARTH (1697-1764) David Garrick with his Wife Eva-Maria Veigel (c. 1757) Oil on canvas (133 x 104 cm) Windsor Castle, Royal Collection To enlarge the image, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" The portrait was presumably a personal commission from the actor David Garrick. It was reported to be in progress by …
The Shipbuilder and his Wife
REMBRANDT VAN RIJN (1606-1669) Jan Rijcken and his Wife, Griet Jans / The shipbuilder and his Wife (1633) Oil on canvas (114 x 169 cm) Buckingham Palace, Royal Collection To enlarge the images, right-click on them and "Open in a new tab" The Shipbuilder and his Wife is a painting of the greatest significance, both in …
Old Masters 