Artwork
Lady Cunliffe
Lady Cunliffe is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist John Hoppner. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond the documented provenance is noted.
Painted in 1781 by John Hoppner, the oil-on-canvas portrait of Harriet Kinloch was commissioned by her husband, Sir Foster Cunliffe, 3rd Bt. The work originally hung at Acton Park in Wrexham, Denbighshire, before passing by descent to Sir Robert Cunliffe, 7th Bt. Its ownership history includes a possible sale through the dealers Lewis and Simmons in New York, London, and Paris in 1928.
Subsequently, the painting entered the collection of Mrs. Vivian B. Allen in New York. By approximately 1962, it had descended to her granddaughter, Josephine Tomkins, also of New York. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., acquired the work as a gift from Josephine Tomkins in 1979, where it remains part of the permanent collection.
Lady Cunliffe is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection as a gift in 1979 from Josephine Tomkins of New York. The painting had descended to Tomkins around 1962 from her grandmother, Mrs. Vivian B. Allen, also of New York. Earlier in the twentieth century, the work may have passed through the dealers Lewis and Simmons in New York, London, and Paris in 1928.
Its earlier provenance traces back to its original commission by the sitter's husband, Sir Foster Cunliffe, 3rd Bt., at Acton Park, Wrexham, Denbighshire, after which it descended to Sir Robert Cunliffe, 7th Bt. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history beyond the documented provenance is noted.
Overview
Lady Cunliffe is an oil on canvas portrait created by the English painter John Hoppner in 1782. The work depicts Harriet Kinloch, known as Lady Cunliffe, and exemplifies the Rococo aesthetic prevalent during the late 18th century. Hoppner's approach to portraiture, characterized by a refined sensibility, captures the sitter within an elegant domestic setting, reflecting the period's artistic trends.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features Harriet Kinloch, Lady Cunliffe, seated within an interior space. Her attire, indicative of contemporary fashion, is rendered with meticulous detail, as are the surrounding decorative elements of the room. Hoppner portrays Lady Cunliffe with a composed expression, offering a glimpse into the social customs and material culture of the late 18th century through the depiction of her refined appearance and surroundings.
Technique & Style
John Hoppner, an English artist recognized for his adept use of color, painted Lady Cunliffe with an evident influence from Joshua Reynolds. The portrait aligns with the Rococo movement, characterized by its emphasis on decorative qualities and graceful forms. Hoppner's technique highlights the luxurious textures of Lady Cunliffe's garments and the ornate details of her environment, contributing to the work's overall elegance and period charm.
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Artist & collection
Artist
John Hoppner was an English painter, much influenced by Joshua Reynolds, who achieved fame as a colourist.
The Hoppner Children
The Sackville Children
Richard Humphreys, the Boxer
Mrs. John Garden (Ann Garden, 1769–1842) and Her Children, John (1796–1854) and Ann Margaret (born 1793)
Mrs. Richard Bache (Sarah Franklin, 1743–1808)
Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan (Hester Jane Ogle, 1775/76–1817) and Her Son (Charles Brinsley Sheridan, 1796–1843)
Major Thomas Pechell (1753–1826)
Mrs. Whaley (died 1798, Isle of Man)
