England, 18th century / 1794
Portrait of Catherine Grey, Lady Manners
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Portrait of Catherine Grey, Lady Manners as painting (England, 18th century · 1794).
Catherine was an Irish poet who wrote of longing to escape the fashionable world.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this painting as oil on canvas and credits Thomas Lawrence (British, 1769–1830).
The museum's collection notes: The Irish poet Lady Manners rejected as “unflattering” this portrait representing her as the goddess Juno, symbolized here by the peacock. Thomas Lawrence exhibited the painting at the Royal Academy in 1794 with the label “to be disposed of [sold],” but it was still in the artist’s collection when he died. Though it offended Lady Manners, the painting displays all the hallmarks of Lawrence’s flamboyant style:dazzling, fluid brushwork and an innovative use of unconventional colors that helped secure his role as the most fashionable portrait painter in turn-of-the-century Britain.
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtPortrait of Catherine Grey, Lady MannersOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.