Artwork
Mary Degg, Lady Robert Manners (1737 - 1829)
Mary Degg, Lady Robert Manners (1737 - 1829) is an oil painting by Thomas Lawrence. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.
About this work
Overview
Mary Degg, Lady Robert Manners is an 1826 oil portrait by Thomas Lawrence, depicting a member of the aristocratic Manners family. The subject, Mary Degg, is seated in a chair, dressed in a blue gown with a white collar and black jacket, set against a dark background with red curtains. Her expression is serious, with direct gaze, and she wears a white bonnet adorned with lace.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures Mary Degg, a woman of noble standing through her marriage into the Manners family. Lawrence's depiction conveys dignity and composure, characteristic of his high-society portraits, though the subject's serious expression adds a note of solemnity.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint, the work showcases Lawrence's mastery of portraiture, emphasizing the subject's presence through meticulous detail in attire and facial expression. The contrast between the dark background, red curtains, and the subject's blue dress creates a sense of depth and highlights the sitter.
History & Provenance
Created in 1826 by Thomas Lawrence, a prominent English portraitist and later President of the Royal Academy, the painting is now part of the collection at the Scottish National Gallery.
Context
This portrait reflects Lawrence's established practice of depicting high-society figures, a specialty that defined his career from his early beginnings as a child prodigy creating pastel portraits.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Thomas Lawrence (13 April 1769 – 7 January 1830) was an English painter who served as the fourth president of the Royal Academy.
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