Portrait of Mary Wise
1774
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1774
unspecified
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
A woman in a fancy gold-trimmed dress looks off to the side, her hands folded loosely. The painting is small and oval-shaped, making her feel close, like she’s sitting right next to you. Mary Wise’s outfit is over-the-top—lace, pearls, gold embroidery—but her face is calm, almost thoughtful. Gainsborough painted her this way to show both wealth and quiet personality at once. If you like this, check out more works from *england, 18th century*.
