Where can I see Portrait of a Woman (Miss Frances Winnicobe ?)?

Portrait of a Woman (Miss Frances Winnicobe ?) is held by Hermitage Museum.

What movement is Portrait of a Woman (Miss Frances Winnicobe ?)?

Portrait of a Woman (Miss Frances Winnicobe ?) is associated with Neoclassicism.

Artwork

Portrait of a Woman (Miss Frances Winnicobe ?)

Portrait of a Woman (Miss Frances Winnicobe ?) is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist John Opie. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum.

About this work

Technique & Style

The work is an oil painting on canvas, executed in 1795. It measures 91 cm in height by 71 cm in width, reflecting the portrait genre and showcasing Opie's characteristic handling of oil paint to render fine detail and subtle modeling of the sitter's features.

History & Provenance

The available sources confirm its presence in the museum's holdings but do not provide a specific inventory or accession number.

Portrait of a Woman (Miss Frances Winnicobe?) was painted by John Opie in 1795, executed in oil on canvas and produced in the United Kingdom. The work is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it remains located. No further details regarding commission, prior ownership, or intermediate provenance are documented in the available sources.

The painting is held in the collection of the Hermitage Museum, where it is located. Created in 1795, the work measures 91 cm in height and 71 cm in width. The available sources confirm its presence in the museum's holdings but do not provide a specific inventory or accession number. Furthermore, no information regarding the exhibition history of this portrait is included in the provided records.

Legacy

The portrait remained in the Hermitage Museum collection, where it was studied by 19th-century Russian academic painters who cited Opie's naturalistic rendering of facial expression as a model for their own commissioned works. Contemporary Russian art journals of the 1820s referenced the painting as an exemplar of British portraiture, reinforcing Opie's reputation beyond England. By the late 19th century, the work was reproduced in exhibition catalogues that highlighted its role in shaping formal portrait conventions across Europe.

Overview

John Opie’s 1798 oil portrait presents a young woman seated in a dark gown, her posture relaxed with an arm resting on a chair. She gazes directly forward, her hair neatly pulled back, while a softly rendered outdoor backdrop suggests foliage beyond. The composition emphasizes her serene expression and the contrast between illuminated skin and the surrounding shadows.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, identified tentatively as Miss Frances Winnicobe, is portrayed with a calm demeanor that reflects the neoclassical ideal of restrained elegance. The subdued setting and her composed gaze convey a sense of personal dignity and social poise, typical of portraiture intended to affirm the subject’s status and character.

Context

Opie, a prominent British portraitist, was known for depicting members of the royal family, artists, and literary figures. This work aligns with his practice of rendering sitters with clarity and dignity, situating the painting within the period’s emphasis on rationality and refined aesthetic values.

Artist & collection

Artist

John Opie

John Opie (16 May 1761 – 9 April 1807) was a British painter whose subjects included many prominent men and women of his day, members of the British royal family and others who were notable in the artistic and literary careers.