Back to search results

PORTRAIT OF MRS. MARLEY

Creator(s): Richard Cosway (Attributed to)

On view in: French Drawing Room


About this object

Richard Cosway was the leading miniaturist of his day, enjoying the favor of the court during the George III and English Regency periods. This miniature displays many of the characteristics that contributed to the fame of Cosway’s work. His subtle technique of applying thin washes of color to let the luminosity of the ivory show through, the modeling of the human form with soft, swift strokes, and the sky blue ground are all hallmarks of his work.

The portrait shows a lady -identified in Hillwood's records as Mrs. Marley- in half-length with her head turned to the right and placed against a bluish sky ground. Her long, grey, powdered hair, bound at the top with a white headband, falls over her shoulders in luxuriant curls. She wears a white muslin dress with ruffles at the low neckline. The oval frame, set with rose-cut diamond flowers between emerald leaves, hangs from a ring at the top. The back has a piece of black silk.

Object name:
PORTRAIT OF MRS. MARLEY
Made from:
Watercolor on ivory -- silver -- diamonds -- emeralds
Made in:
England
Date made:
ca. 1780
Size:
7.9 × 6.8 cm (3 1/8 × 2 11/16 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:
53.8
Class:
MINIATURE
Signature marks:
Credit line:
Bequest of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1973