Artwork
Mrs Drewry Ottley
Mrs Drewry Ottley is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Tilly Kettle. It dates from 1768 and is held in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum.
About this work
She is depicted wearing a green dress with a white undershirt and a brown shawl, and her dark hair is styled in an updo.
This painting is a portrait of a woman, identified as Mrs. Drewry Ottley. She is depicted wearing a green dress with a white undershirt and a brown shawl, and her dark hair is styled in an updo. The background of the painting is a cloudy sky with trees visible on the right side.
The woman's attire and hairstyle suggest that the painting was created in the 18th century. The artist has used oil paint to create a realistic and detailed image of the subject.
The painting is held at the Ashmolean Museum. To learn more about the artist's use of chiaroscuro, look up Tilly Kettle.
Overview
Mrs Drewry Ottley is an 18th-century oil painting by English artist Tilly Kettle, executed in 1768. The portrait is part of the Ashmolean Museum's collection.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Mrs. Drewry Ottley, a woman of the time, dressed in a green gown, white undershirt, and brown shawl, with her hair styled in an updo. The attire and hairstyle are characteristic of 18th-century fashion.
Technique & Style
Kettle employed oil paint to achieve a realistic and detailed representation of the subject. The work aligns with the Rococo movement's aesthetic sensibilities.
History & Provenance
Created in 1768, the painting is attributed to Tilly Kettle, a portrait specialist who later pioneered British artistic presence in Colonial India. It is now held in the Ashmolean Museum's collection.
Context
The background features a cloudy sky with visible trees on the right, contextualizing the subject within a natural, outdoor setting.
Artist & collection
Artist
Tilly Kettle (1735 – 1786) was an English painter who specialised in portrait painting. He was the first British painter to operate in Colonial India.
