1789
oil
canvas
From the collection of Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Portrait of Mrs. Jelf Powis and her Daughter is a 1789 oil by Joshua Reynolds, a Rococo painting work, held at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
This portrait depicts a woman and a young girl standing together in a lush outdoor setting. The woman, dressed in a flowing white gown with a pink shawl draped over her shoulders, has her arm around the girl. The girl wears a white dress with a pink skirt and a blue sash around her waist, and she gazes up at the woman. The woman's expression is gentle, and her hand is extended as if she is about to take a step forward. The girl's face is turned upwards, and her eyes are fixed on the woman. The background of the painting is dark, with hints of greenery visible behind the figures. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figures. For more on this technique, look up chiaroscuro.
Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits.
See the richer artist page
