Who painted Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side?

Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side was painted by Benjamin West in 1755.

Where can I see Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side?

Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side?

Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side

Benjamin West , 1755

Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side is a watercolor work on paper by the Rococo painting artist Benjamin West. It dates from 1755 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

Overview

Benjamin West’s watercolour, titled *Lady with a baby in her arms and a child at her side*, presents a fleeting scene of a woman cradling an infant while a younger child stands nearby. The composition is rendered in a single sheet of paper, with the artist’s signature located on the reverse. The work measures roughly a modest size, typical of West’s sketchbook studies.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a domestic moment, suggesting familial care and the bond between siblings. The adult figure, shrouded by a wide-brimmed hat and a flowing coat of pale blue‑green, holds the baby protectively, while the child, in a darker hat and simple coat, leans forward, hand touching his head, perhaps indicating curiosity or affection toward the infant.

Technique & Style

West employs rapid, gestural brushwork characteristic of a sketch rather than a finished painting. Loose washes of colour define the figures’ outlines, and the blurred facial features convey movement and immediacy. The watercolor’s translucency allows underlying paper tones to show through, reinforcing the sense of a quick visual note captured on the spot.

History & Provenance

The piece bears West’s signature on its back, confirming authorship. While the precise date of execution is not recorded, the work aligns with West’s practice of producing preparatory studies for larger compositions. Its current location is not specified, but it forms part of the broader corpus of West’s watercolour sketches that have circulated among collectors and institutions.