Artwork
The Ely Family
The Ely Family is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Angelica Kauffmann. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
Overview
Angelica Kauffmann’s oil painting titled The Ely Family was completed in 1771. The work is part of the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland, where it is displayed among other 18th‑century European paintings.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents five figures arranged within an interior space, centered on a man in a red and gold costume with a white cape. Flanking him are two women in flowing white and blue gowns, a woman in a red‑white dress, and a man in white attire topped with a turban. The composition suggests a formal family portrait, emphasizing status and cohesion.
Technique & Style
Kauffmann employs a restrained palette of reds, whites, blues and golds, creating contrast that models the figures against the muted background. The large window behind them opens onto a building and trees, providing atmospheric depth. Subtle chiaroscuro enhances the three‑dimensionality of the forms while maintaining a graceful, neoclassical elegance.
History & Provenance
Since its creation in the early 1770s, the painting has remained in private hands before entering the National Gallery of Ireland’s holdings. Its provenance reflects the typical trajectory of Kauffmann’s works, moving from aristocratic collections to public institutions.
Context
Created during Kauffmann’s mature period, The Ely Family exemplifies her skill in portraiture for elite patrons. The inclusion of a turbaned figure and the architectural backdrop echo contemporary tastes for exotic detail and the Enlightenment interest in rational composition.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann, usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss painter who had a successful career in London and Rome.
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