SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS (1723-1792) Anne, 2nd Countess Albemarle (c. 1759) Oil on canvas (126 x 101 cm) The National Gallery, London Although some colour has fled from the face in this portrait as is usual with Reynold's work of this period, the shadows there retain their transparency; the lights painted in the patterned black mantle …
Tag: London
Margaret’s Portrait
THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH (1727-1788) Mrs Gainsborough (1778) Oil on canvas (77 x 64 cm) Courtauld Institute Galleries, University of London To enlarge the image, right-click on it, then "Open in a new tab" Gainsborough had been married for over 30 years by the date of this portrait. His marriage to Margaret Burr (1728-1798) was, presumably, a …
A Scholar and a Gentleman
ALLAN RAMSAY (1713-1784) Robert Wood (1755) Oil on canvas (98 x 74 cm) National Gallery, London Robert Wood (1716-1771), was a classical scholar, archaeologist and politician; educated at the University of Glasgow. After early travels in France, Italy and the Middle East. he joined John Bouverie and James Dawkins on their expedition to Asia Minor and Greece, …
Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel
PETER PAUL RUBENS (1577-1640) Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel (c. 1629) Oil on canvas (67 x 54 cm) National Gallery, London To enlarge the picture, right-click on it, then "Open in a new tab" Within the different genres covered by the Old Masters, portraiture is my favourite. In the hands of its finest practitioners …
The Travelling Earl
ANTON VAN DYCK (1599-1641) Portrait of the Earl of Denbigh (1633-34) Oil on canvas 247 x 148 cm The National Gallery, London To enlarge the picture, right-click on it and "Open in a new tab" William Feilding (c.1582-1643), first Earl of Denbigh, was very well-connected. In 1607 he married the sister of George Villiers, soon …