Artwork
The Artist's Wife (Rebecca Smellie)
The Artist's Wife (Rebecca Smellie) is an oil painting by George Watson. It dates from 1812 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark, adds depth and dimension to the portrait.
This portrait features a woman with a serious expression, gazing directly at the viewer. She is attired in a dark dress adorned with a ruffled collar and a red shawl draped over her shoulders. A white bonnet with a sheer veil covers her curly hair.
The subject's attire and the overall style of the painting suggest that it was created during the 18th or early 19th century. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that employs strong contrasts between light and dark, adds depth and dimension to the portrait.
To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, explore the technique further.
Overview
The Artist's Wife (Rebecca Smellie) is an oil painting created by George Watson, a prominent Scottish portrait painter, around 1812. It is part of the Scottish National Gallery's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Rebecca Smellie, the artist's wife, with a serious expression, directly engaging the viewer. Her attire, including a dark dress, ruffled collar, red shawl, and white bonnet with a sheer veil, reflects early 19th-century fashion.
Technique & Style
Watson employed chiaroscuro, a painting technique utilizing strong light and dark contrasts, to add depth and dimensionality to the portrait, characteristic of his style during this period.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1812, the painting is now held in the Scottish National Gallery's collection, with Watson's role as the inaugural president of the Royal Scottish Academy underscoring its historical significance.
Artist & collection
Artist
George Watson (20 October 1766 – 24 August 1837) was a Scottish portrait painter and the first president of the Royal Scottish Academy.
Euphemia Helen Smeton or Smeaton (died 1825) 'Mrs Douglas Dickson'
Mary Degg, Lady Robert Manners (1737 - 1829)
Portrait of a Woman (Mrs. Ann Hivlyn)
Mrs Hobson of Markfield (c.1759–1831)
Jean or Jane Adam, Mrs Kennedy of Dunure
Jean Adam, Mrs Kennedy of Dunure
Zepherina Loughnan, Mrs Henry Veitch of Eliock
Portrait of a Woman (Mrs. Ann Hivlyn)
Anne Erskine, Mrs John Wauchope of Edmonstone (1740 - 1811)
Mary Martin, Mrs Alexander Gowan (1716 - 1795)
Ann Fraser, Mrs. Alexander Fraser Tytler
Frances Harriet Wynne, Mrs Hamilton of Kames (1786 - 1860)