Artwork

Cropley Ashley-Cooper (Later 6th Earl of Shaftesbury) with His Sister Mary Anne Ashley-Cooper, Later Lady Sturt of Crichel

Cropley Ashley-Cooper (Later 6th Earl of Shaftesbury) with His Sister Mary Anne Ashley-Cooper, Later Lady Sturt of Crichel is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Daniel Gardner. It dates from 1776 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The oval shape and pastel colors were trendy in 1700s England, like a fancy Instagram filter for the rich.

A boy in a blue coat leans against his sister, who wraps an arm around him. Behind them, soft green hills roll under a pale sky. Their faces glow in the light.

Gardner painted mostly children, and you can tell—he makes their bond feel real, not stiff. The oval shape and pastel colors were trendy in 1700s England, like a fancy Instagram filter for the rich.

Look up other portraits from England, 18th century to see how artists dressed up kids like little adults.

Overview

Daniel Gardner’s oval pastel drawing presents the young Cropley Ashley‑Cooper, who would become the 6th Earl of Shaftesbury, alongside his elder sister Mary Anne, later Lady Sturt of Crichel. The siblings are positioned in a gentle embrace, set against a muted landscape of rolling green hills beneath a pale sky, their faces illuminated by soft light.

Subject & Meaning

The work captures an intimate moment between the brother and sister, emphasizing familial affection rather than formal display. Cropley leans into Mary Anne, who supports him with an arm around his shoulders, suggesting both protection and companionship that reflects the values of aristocratic childhood in mid‑18th‑century England.

Technique & Style

Executed in pastel, the drawing exploits the medium’s fine, irregular particles to diffuse light, creating a velvety surface that enhances the delicate modeling of flesh and fabric. The oval format and pastel palette were fashionable in the period, allowing a soft focus that unifies the figures with the pastoral background.

History & Provenance

Created during Gardner’s prolific period of portraiture for the English elite, the drawing was likely commissioned by the Ashley‑Cooper family. It later entered the collection of the Sturt family through Mary Anne’s marriage, remaining in private hands before being acquired by a public institution for display.

Context

Gardner specialized in small‑scale portraits of children, a niche that catered to the aristocracy’s desire for intimate, domestic representations. This piece aligns with contemporary trends that favored pastel miniatures and sentimental depictions of youth, contrasting with the more formal oil portraits of adult patrons.

Legacy

The drawing exemplifies Gardner’s skill in rendering texture and emotion within a compact format, contributing to the broader appreciation of pastel portraiture in 18th‑century British art. It continues to serve as a reference for scholars studying familial representation and the social conventions of childhood among the landed gentry.