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Miss Raymond

John Russell

1783

pastel

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism 18th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Miss Raymond is a 1783 pastel by John Russell, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: John Russell
When & what style?: 1783 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This painting shows a woman with soft, fair skin and pale pink lips. Her hair is styled in loose curls, and she wears a light-colored dress with sheer fabric draped over one shoulder. The background is a plain, muted green, keeping all focus on her face and hands, which rest gently in her lap. The artist used pastel—chalky sticks of color—to create smooth, blended tones, especially on her skin and hair. The edges of her dress and the background stay simple, making her look calm and still. If you like this style, check out pastel techniques next.