Artwork

Portrait of Anastasia Moore (née Codd), Mother of Thomas Moore

Portrait of Anastasia Moore (née Codd), Mother of Thomas Moore, by Unknown, oil
Portrait of Anastasia Moore (née Codd), Mother of Thomas Moore, by Unknown, oil

Portrait of Anastasia Moore (née Codd), Mother of Thomas Moore is an oil painting by Unknown. It is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland. The work is an oil painting portraying a woman seated against a muted brown backdrop.

About this work

Overview

The work is an oil painting portraying a woman seated against a muted brown backdrop. She wears a dark dress with a white collar and a sizeable bonnet, her gaze meeting the viewer directly. The composition centers on her face, conveying a solemn atmosphere through restrained coloration and the subject’s serious expression.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter is identified as Anastasia Moore, née Codd, the mother of poet Thomas Moore. Her attire and demeanor reflect the modest, respectable bearing expected of a woman of her social standing in the early nineteenth century, emphasizing familial identity over individual ornamentation.

Technique & Style

Executed in oil on canvas, the artist employs a limited palette of deep tones contrasted with the crisp white of the collar. Soft modeling of the facial features and careful handling of light create a subtle three‑dimensionality, while the overall tonal restraint aligns with portrait conventions of the period.

History & Provenance

The portrait was likely commissioned during Anastasia Moore’s lifetime, though the exact date and artist remain undocumented. It has since entered the collection of a museum dedicated to Irish cultural history, where it serves as a visual reference to the family background of Thomas Moore.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known