Artwork
Portrait of Mrs. George Collier
Portrait of Mrs. George Collier is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Joshua Reynolds. It dates from 1749 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The sources provide no specific details regarding symbolic objects, iconographic elements, or a deeper metaphorical meaning attached to the composition.
The work depicts Mrs. George Collier, identified solely by her marital title within the portrait's designation. As a formal portrait painted by Joshua Reynolds in 1749, the piece functions primarily as a representation of the sitter's identity and social standing rather than an allegorical narrative. The sources provide no specific details regarding symbolic objects, iconographic elements, or a deeper metaphorical meaning attached to the composition.
The painting serves as a straightforward visual record of the subject, executed in oil on canvas during the artist's early career in England.
Technique & Style
Portrait of Mrs. George Collier is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, measuring approximately 80 cm in height and 67.3 cm in width. The work is classified as a portrait and dates to 1749. As a painting by Joshua Reynolds, it employs the oil medium typical of his practice, applied to a primed canvas ground. No specific details about brush handling, surface condition, or stylistic nuances are provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted by Joshua Reynolds in 1749, as recorded in the artist’s ledgers and supported by its inclusion in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.
The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings as a gift from the Hanna Fund in 1940, securing its presence in the museum’s permanent collection. Prior to this, the painting’s provenance traces to private ownership in England, though specific early owners are not documented in the museum’s records.
The painting is held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under accession number 1950.275.
It was included in the exhibition “The Age of Reynolds: British Painting in the Eighteenth Century,” held at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1950.
Overview
Sir Joshua Reynolds, a prominent English painter of the 18th century, completed Portrait of Mrs. George Collier in 1749. This oil painting exemplifies his early work in the portrait genre, a field in which he became a leading figure. The artwork captures the likeness of Mrs. George Collier, showcasing the artist's developing skill in rendering individual character and elegant presentation, characteristic of his broader artistic output.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits.
