Who painted Miss Laing?

Miss Laing was painted by Frederic Leighton in 1853.

Where can I see Miss Laing?

Miss Laing is held by Fitzwilliam Museum.

What movement is Miss Laing?

Miss Laing is associated with British Romanticism.

Artwork

Miss Laing

Frederic Leighton , 1853

Miss Laing is an oil painting by the British Romanticist artist Frederic Leighton. It dates from 1853 and is held in the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum.

About this work

Overview

Frederic Leighton’s oil painting titled *Miss Laing* was completed in 1853. The work is part of the collection of the Fitzwilliam Museum, where it remains on display. It presents a single female figure rendered in a refined, academic style typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century British portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas shows a young woman dressed in a blue gown trimmed with lace, standing before a softly rendered landscape that suggests a garden or park setting. Her dark hair is decorated with flowers, and a gold bracelet encircles her right wrist. The pose—right hand on a ledge, left hand holding a white glove—conveys a poised, genteel demeanor.

Technique & Style

Leighton employs a smooth, polished oil technique, allowing delicate modeling of skin and fabric. The blue dress is rendered with subtle variations of hue, while the lace trim is indicated through fine, linear brushwork. The background landscape is treated with broader, atmospheric strokes, creating depth without detracting from the central figure.

History & Provenance

Created early in Leighton’s career, the portrait entered the Fitzwilliam Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it has been catalogued as part of the museum’s 19th‑century British painting collection. No further ownership changes are recorded in the available documentation.

Context

The work reflects the Victorian era’s interest in portraiture that combined personal likeness with an idealized sense of elegance. Leighton, later known for his academic history paintings, was at this stage developing the compositional balance and attention to detail that would characterize his subsequent oeuvre.

Artist & collection

Artist

Frederic Leighton

Frederic Leighton, 1st Baron Leighton,, known as Sir Frederic Leighton between 1878 and 1896, was a British Victorian painter, draughtsman, and sculptor.