1812
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
Dominant colour
The Artist's Wife (Rebecca Smellie) is a 1812 oil by George Watson, held at National Galleries Scotland.
This portrait features a woman with a serious expression, gazing directly at the viewer. She is attired in a dark dress adorned with a ruffled collar and a red shawl draped over her shoulders. A white bonnet with a sheer veil covers her curly hair. The subject's attire and the overall style of the painting suggest that it was created during the 18th or early 19th century. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark, adds depth and dimension to the portrait. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique further.
George Watson (20 October 1766 – 24 August 1837) was a Scottish portrait painter and the first president of the Royal Scottish Academy.
See the richer artist page
