1791
watercolor
ivory
From the collection of National Museum of Ancient Art
Dominant colour
Portrait of a lady is a 1791 watercolor by John Smart, a Rococo painting work, held at National Museum of Ancient Art.
The painting is a portrait of a lady, depicted in a circular frame. She has fair skin and light hair styled in an updo. Her attire includes a purple dress with a white lace bodice and a gold necklace. The background is a solid color, which appears to be dark brown or black. The lady's gaze is directed to the left side of the image. Her expression is neutral, and her lips are slightly parted. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of elegance and refinement. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the portrait. The contrast between light and dark adds volume to the subject's features and clothing. To learn more about this technique, explore the concept of chiaroscuro.
John Smart (1 May 1741 – 1 May 1811) was an English painter who specialised in portrait miniatures. He was a contemporary of Richard Cosway, George Engleheart, William Wood and Richard Crosse.
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