Artwork
Portrait of Anna Maria Woolf, née Smart
Portrait of Anna Maria Woolf, née Smart is an unspecified portrait miniature by the Rococo painting artist John Smart. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
This tiny portrait was likely a practice sketch—John Smart kept hundreds of them.
A woman in a white dress and blue sash looks straight at you. Her hair is powdered, her cheeks softly pink.
This tiny portrait was likely a practice sketch—John Smart kept hundreds of them. He painted miniatures, often no bigger than a playing card, for wealthy clients. The fine lines suggest he worked fast, maybe in one sitting.
To see more small-scale portraits like this, look up England, 18th century.
Overview
This portrait miniature is a preparatory sketch by John Smart, depicting a woman in a white dress. It is one of many such sketches retained by the artist.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Anna Maria Woolf, née Smart, is shown with dark hair and eyes, wearing a white dress with a ruffled bodice and a pendant. Her identity was lost over time, and it was later mislabeled as 'Duchess Christina', a common practice for unknown subjects in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Technique & Style
The sketch is characterized by fine lines and a faintly suggested oval border, with an unpainted background. The paper backing, removed in 1993, was inscribed with '38' and 'Indi', possibly indicating a cataloging or identification system.
History & Provenance
The sketch was given by Smart's daughter Sarah to Mary Smirke, and later divided among the Smirke family. It was sold at auction in 1928, after being part of a sketchbook that was likely broken up around 1877.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Smart (1 May 1741 – 1 May 1811) was an English painter who specialised in portrait miniatures. He was a contemporary of Richard Cosway, George Engleheart, William Wood and Richard Crosse.
