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Elizabeth Price Thomas by Street, Robert

Street, Robert · 1834

Robert Street's 1834 oil portrait, "Elizabeth Price Thomas," captures a woman of quiet dignity and directness. The painting, now at the National Museum Wales, is a striking example of early 19th-century portraiture, highlighting individual identity.

Notice her serene expression and the composed way she holds a small red book. Is it a testament to her literacy, a cherished personal item, or a devotional text? The subtle landscape glimpsed through the window hints at a world beyond her intimate interior.

Street employed soft, directed lighting to draw attention to Elizabeth's face and hands, creating depth against the darker background. This technique enhances the calm, introspective mood. Little is known about Elizabeth Price Thomas herself, making this portrait a valuable glimpse into her world.

What do you imagine she might have been reading?

Details

She wears a fashionable black dress, adorned with pearls.
She wears a fashionable black dress, adorned with pearls.
She holds a small red book, a private world in her hands.
She holds a small red book, a private world in her hands.
Perhaps it's a prayer book, or a treasured novel.
Perhaps it's a prayer book, or a treasured novel.
Transcript

Elizabeth Price Thomas posed for this portrait in 1834. She wears a fashionable black dress, adorned with pearls. Her blue eyes meet ours, calm and direct. She holds a small red book, a private world in her hands. Perhaps it's a prayer book, or a treasured novel. The artist, Robert Street, signed his name clearly below.