Who painted Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana?

Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana was painted by J. Wenman in 1.

Where can I see Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana?

Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana?

Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana

J. Wenman , 1

Mrs Lessingham in the character of Oriana is a print by the Romanticist artist J. Wenman. It dates from 1 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This print shows Mrs. Lessingham dressed as Oriana in a fancy room. J. Wenman made it in 1777 and printed it in London. It’s part of the Romanticism movement, full of soft moods and feeling.

The work was published on August 1st, 1777, and later added to the Harry Beard Collection.

To see more Romanticism, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Overview

The work is a printed image dating from 1777 that portrays a woman identified as Mrs Lessingham dressed in the role of Oriana, a character from early‑modern drama. Produced by the London publisher J. Wenman, the print was issued on 1 August 1777 and now resides in the Harry Beard Collection.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents Mrs Lessingham in costume, embodying Oriana, a figure associated with courtly love and lyrical poetry. By casting a contemporary lady in a theatrical guise, the image reflects eighteenth‑century interests in costume portraiture and the blending of personal identity with literary allusion.

Technique & Style

Executed as a print, the image employs line engraving techniques typical of the period, allowing for fine detailing of costume and interior décor. The rendering favors a gentle tonal range, creating a subdued atmosphere that aligns with the softer aesthetic currents emerging in late‑eighteenth‑century visual culture.

History & Provenance

First circulated by J. Wenman in London, the print entered the Harry Beard Collection at an unspecified later date, where it remains catalogued. Its documented publication date and publisher provide a clear provenance trail, confirming its place within the commercial print market of the 1770s.

Artist & collection

Artist

J. Wenman

J. Wenman made prints for actors who wanted to look their best onstage and at home. In *Mrs Lessingham as Oriana* (1777), he caught a smile that’s both proud and playful, like someone you’d meet at a country-house play.…