Artwork
Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald (Louisa Johnston, ?born about 1760, died 1797)
Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald (Louisa Johnston, ?born about 1760, died 1797) is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Henry Raeburn. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is a formal portrait depicting Louisa Johnston, the wife of Richard Alexander Oswald, identified as the painting's main subject.
The work is a formal portrait depicting Louisa Johnston, the wife of Richard Alexander Oswald, identified as the painting's main subject. Created by Henry Raeburn in 1794, the oil painting on canvas presents Johnston in the genre of portraiture, focusing entirely on her likeness rather than complex narrative symbolism or allegorical iconography. The composition serves to document the sitter's identity and social standing during the late eighteenth century.
No specific symbolic objects or deeper iconographic layers are noted in the available records; the piece functions primarily as a direct visual representation of the individual. The artwork captures Johnston as the central figure, emphasizing her presence through the artist's characteristic style without additional decorative elements that would suggest a broader metaphorical meaning beyond her personal identity.
Technique & Style
The portrait of Louisa Johnston, known as Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald, was executed in 1794 using oil paint on canvas, a support typical of Raeburn’s portraiture. The work, classified as a painting and portrait genre, measures 123.2 cm in height by 103.8 cm in width, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. Raeburn’s technique involves a smooth application of oil to achieve fine detail and subtle modeling of the sitter’s features. Documentation does not provide further details on the painting’s current condition or handling history.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Louisa Johnston was painted by Henry Raeburn in 1794, executed in oil on canvas. The sitter, identified as Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald, is recorded with approximate birth around 1760 and death in 1797, suggesting the work was produced in the final years of her life. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held.
Beyond the date of creation, the sitter's identity, and the present institutional location, the available sources do not document the original commission, the early ownership chain, or the circumstances of the work's transfer into the museum's holdings.
The portrait of Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. While the provided records confirm the institution's ownership and the work's physical presence there, they do not specify a particular accession or inventory number. Furthermore, the available documentation offers no details regarding the painting's exhibition history, such as specific shows, dates, or venues where it has been displayed to the public.
Overview
Henry Raeburn's 1798 oil painting portrays Louisa Johnston, identified as Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald. This portrait captures the sitter in a contemplative pose, characteristic of the British Romantic period. The work, executed in oil paint, is a significant example of Raeburn's output, a Scottish artist who would later serve as Portrait Painter to King George IV in Scotland. It is currently part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Context
Painted in 1798, this work exemplifies the British Romantic movement's interest in individual emotion and character. Henry Raeburn, a prominent Scottish portraitist, created this piece before he received the esteemed title of Portrait Painter to King George IV in Scotland. The painting's current home is The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it contributes to the understanding of late 18th-century British art.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Henry Raeburn (; 4 March 1756 – 8 July 1823) was a Scottish portrait painter. He served as Portrait Painter to King George IV in Scotland.
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