Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an unspecified painting by Thomas Forster. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
It is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, having entered the museum’s holdings and is displayed as a painting of a woman.
The work depicts a woman rendered as a portrait, reflecting the subject’s representation in early 18th‑century visual culture. It is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, having entered the museum’s holdings and is displayed as a painting of a woman. The painting was created in 1700 by Thomas Forster, an artist associated with portraiture of the period.
Measured at 112 cm in height and 90 cm in width, the canvas conforms to typical portrait dimensions of the era.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Woman was painted by Thomas Forster around 1700, as indicated by the work’s inception date of 1700‑01‑01. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed. No specific records of a commission or earlier owners are provided in the available sources, so the painting’s provenance prior to its acquisition by the Met remains undocumented. The work’s creation is therefore understood solely through its attribution to Forster and its early‑18th‑century dating.
The painting Portrait of a Woman by Thomas Forster is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While the work dates to 1700, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for this piece. The sources also contain no information regarding a history of exhibitions for this specific portrait.
Overview
Thomas Forster's "Portrait of a Woman," created in 1700, offers a formal depiction of an unidentified female sitter. The artwork emphasizes her composed demeanor and the refined details of her clothing, presented against an unadorned background. This painting is a part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing early 18th-century portraiture.
Technique & Style
Forster utilized a diverse range of colors to articulate the distinct textures of the sitter's attire and hair. The shimmering quality of her satin top and the intricate curls are rendered with precision. A simple, plain background ensures that the viewer's attention remains entirely on the figure, accentuating her features and garments without visual competition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Forster, of Adderstone Hall, Northumberland, was an English landowner and Tory politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1708 to 1716.
