Artwork

Portrait of Miss Elizabeth Linley [later Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan]

Portrait of Miss Elizabeth Linley [later Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan] is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Thomas Gainsborough. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This 1775 oil painting by Thomas Gainsborough is a portrait of Elizabeth Linley, later known as Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan. It is held in the Philadelphia Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait depicts a young woman with dark hair, dressed in a white gown with gold and pearl adornments, gazing to the left. Her attire and hairstyle convey elegance and refinement.

Technique & Style

Gainsborough's use of a light palette and fluid brushwork characterizes the Rococo style. The interplay of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the image.

Artist & collection

Artist

Thomas Gainsborough

Thomas Gainsborough (; 14 May 1727 (baptised) – 2 August 1788) was an English painter, draughtsman and printmaker who specialised in portrait and landscape painting.