Who painted Mrs Leiper?

Mrs Leiper was painted by William McTaggart in 1872.

Where can I see Mrs Leiper?

Mrs Leiper is held by National Galleries Scotland.

What movement is Mrs Leiper?

Mrs Leiper is associated with Impressionism.

Artwork

Mrs Leiper

William McTaggart , 1872

Mrs Leiper is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist William McTaggart. It dates from 1872 and is held in the collection of the National Galleries Scotland.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1872, *Mrs Leiper* is an oil portrait by Scottish painter William McTaggart. The work presents a single figure against a uniform backdrop, emphasizing the sitter’s features and attire. It resides in the collection of the Scottish National Gallery, where it is displayed among other examples of McTaggart’s output during his mature period.

Subject & Meaning

The canvas depicts a woman identified as Mrs Leiper, dressed in dark garments and a white head covering. She gazes directly at the viewer with a composed, serious expression, suggesting a formal, perhaps domestic, representation typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century portraiture. The plain background isolates her, focusing attention on her face and demeanor.

Technique & Style

McTaggart employs oil paint to render the figure with a high degree of realism, using careful modeling of light and shadow on the skin and fabric. While the portrait retains a conventional compositional structure, the handling of color and brushwork reflects the subtle influence of Impressionist ideas that were entering Scottish art at the time.

History & Provenance

William McTaggart (1835–1910) is best known for landscape and marine scenes, yet he also produced portraits such as this one. *Mrs Leiper* entered the Scottish National Gallery’s holdings, where it remains part of the institution’s representation of 19th‑century Scottish painting, illustrating the artist’s broader range beyond his more celebrated seascapes.