Artwork
Lady Mary Coke, Wife of Edward, Viscount Coke
Lady Mary Coke, Wife of Edward, Viscount Coke is an ink print by the Baroque artist James MacArdell. It dates from 1746 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Lady Mary Coke, Wife of Edward, Viscount Coke is an engraving by James MacArdell, dated 1746, depicting a noblewoman in a refined interior.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Lady Mary Coke, is portrayed standing in an elegantly furnished room, juxtaposing domesticity (symbolized by a broom in her right hand) with aristocratic refinement (evidenced by her satin dress and matching headpiece).
Technique & Style
The engraving showcases MacArdell's use of cross-hatching, a technique employing closely spaced parallel lines that vary in density and direction to achieve detailed, high-contrast images, suitable for capturing the intricacies of Lady Coke's attire and the room's decor.
History & Provenance
Created in 1746 by James MacArdell, specific details about the engraving's ownership history and exhibitions are not provided in the available information.
Context
This work reflects 18th-century portraiture conventions, blending the sitter's social status with subtle hints at personal character, set against the backdrop of burgeoning middle-class interest in domesticity and refinement.
Legacy
The engraving's impact on subsequent artistic practices or its reception over time is not detailed in the provided sources, though it remains a representative example of MacArdell's engraving skills and 18th-century portrait conventions.
Artist & collection
H Beard Print Collection
Mrs. Pelham
H Beard Print Collection
H Beard Print Collection
La Belle Hamilton
Mrs. Margaret Woffington in the Character of Mrs. Ford in the Merry Wives of Windsor
H Beard Print Collection
Madam Parson
The Right Honorable Lady Elizabeth Butler, Countess of Chesterfield
H Beard Print Collection
Maria Anna von Zweibrücken-Birkenfeld
Mme. XXX en Flore