Who painted Hester Booth (c.1690–1773)?

Hester Booth (c.1690–1773) was painted by John Ellys in 1723.

Where can I see Hester Booth (c.1690–1773)?

Hester Booth (c.1690–1773) is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Hester Booth (c.1690–1773)?

Hester Booth (c.1690–1773) is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Hester Booth (c.1690–1773)

John Ellys , 1723

Hester Booth (c.1690–1773) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist John Ellys. It dates from 1723 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

John Ellys’ 1723 oil portrait presents Hester Booth, a woman born around 1690 who lived until 1773. The work is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection. Executed in the early eighteenth century, the painting captures Booth in a domestic interior, emphasizing her attire and poised stance.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, identified as Hester Booth, stands upright within a modestly furnished room. Her raised right arm and composed expression suggest confidence and social standing. The composition foregrounds her fashionable dress, implying the importance of personal presentation and perhaps signaling her role within her family or community.

Technique & Style

Ellys employs oil on canvas to render a vivid, geometric pattern of red, gold and green triangles on the gown, demonstrating meticulous brushwork. The background features a muted green wall, a classical column, and a checkered floor, providing spatial depth while allowing the dress to dominate the visual field.

History & Provenance

Created in 1723, the portrait entered the Victoria and Albert Museum’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, though earlier ownership records are sparse. Its survival in good condition reflects careful conservation and the museum’s commitment to preserving eighteenth‑century British portraiture.

Context

The painting exemplifies early Georgian portraiture, where artists like Ellys combined realistic likeness with decorative detail. The elaborate dress aligns with contemporary fashions that favored bold, patterned fabrics, while the interior setting reflects the genteel domestic environments favored by the emerging middle class.