William Beechey (Circle), Portrait Of A Lady

William Beechey (Circle), Portrait Of A LadyThis beautiful early 19th century portrait of a lady depicts her resting within a tranquil evening landscape. Her outfit is inspired by antiquity, her expression entirely natural. In 1800, the rules pertaining to fashion radically shifted with the emphasis placed upon an idealised notion of Ancient Greece and Rome. Women relaxed in lightweight muslin, high waisted elegant silhouettes, and hairstyles lacking ceremony. They drifted through the landscape

he exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts and his work has been shown in public galleries across the UK

It’s such a clever visual tool as you can see its yellow glow wherever you look in the scene

Clearly he means business

He that loveth his life shall lose it

The gardens

The canvas has vertical lines of craquelure but the paint layer is stable

Little is known about the creator

Wilhelm Brandenburg (1824-1901)

A sensitive depiction of a Romani woman wearing a beautiful red dress and patterned headscarf

Berkes was born in Budapest and later lived in Paris

and a large black bow tie

his country devastated by the shocking effects of war