Who painted A Western woman seated at a table?

A Western woman seated at a table was painted by George Chinnery in 11.

Where can I see A Western woman seated at a table?

A Western woman seated at a table is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is A Western woman seated at a table?

A Western woman seated at a table is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

A Western woman seated at a table

George Chinnery , 11

A Western woman seated at a table is a drawing by the Romanticist artist George Chinnery. It dates from 11 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This paper drawing depicts a seated woman whose head is omitted, with her forefinger poised between the pages of an open book.

About this work

Overview

This paper drawing depicts a seated woman whose head is omitted, with her forefinger poised between the pages of an open book. A brief handwritten note accompanies the image, indicating that the work served as a preparatory study for a larger portrait.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is identified as Mrs. Dallas, the spouse of Alexander Grant Dallas, a partner in the trading firm Jardine, Matheson. The gesture of marking a page suggests a moment of contemplation or reading, offering insight into the sitter’s private demeanor.

Technique & Style

Executed in a rapid, sketch-like manner, the drawing employs loose lines and a personal shorthand annotation. The artist’s decision to leave the head unrendered reflects a common practice of using incomplete studies to capture pose and gesture before completing a full portrait.

History & Provenance

Attributed to George Chinnery, an artist known for such preparatory sketches, the work likely originated as a working study for a commissioned portrait. The accompanying note, written in the artist’s own shorthand, underscores its function as a temporary reference rather than a finished piece.

Artist & collection

Artist

George Chinnery

George Chinnery (Chinese: 錢納利; 5 January 1774 – 30 May 1852) was an English painter who spent most of his life in Asia, especially India and southern China.