Living in Edinburgh, I love looking at painting. Please too take time to listen to William Dalrymple on a portrait of his great great grandmother Lady Dalrymple. It’s an amazing story and he tells it brilliantly in 10 mins on the Watts Gallery website. Fascinating ties to India.
I remember going to see this in the National Gallery of Scotland and the room attendant telling us of how her eyes followed you round the room. Then he got us to walk across the room to see it for ourselves and they did.
Gosh India, this is one of my all time favourite paintings and you’ve just encapsulated in words why it is so mesmerising! I even have a postcard, purchased from the National Galleries in Edinburgh, on a shelf in my bedroom. I hate to think of her falling on hard times…but love to see her celebrated now.
The hard times bit is slightly unclear, and hopefully it was 'hard' as in from 'very rich' to 'slightly rich'. I love the painting too and it's one of the very few portraits that makes me really wish I'd known the sitter.
Wonderful portrait, for all the reasons mentioned. But I have to admit, I love the prettiness too - the gauziness of the fabric! Talking of fabric, I wonder whether anybody reading this can suggest a specialist dry cleaner for my discoloured crewel work? I know all the normal ones, but I know there are special ones that e.g. serious designer stores use. If anyone has a suggestion, obviously with no guarantees as to outcome (!) I would be very grateful.
Many thanks, India. Particularly since when I looked up the Percarbonate info it said DO NOT USE ON WOOL OR SILK. I will report back in due course. (By the way, have just used percarbonate on old, slightly manky looking mattress cover, the result looks blinding white and almost new. Hip hip hooray!)
Loved the recent Sargent exhibition at Tate Britain, including this portrait. I left wanting an opera cloak (searches eBay…). Just the thing for winter.
I have always loved this portrait because it’s obviously very beautiful and decorative but also because lady A is a dead ringer for my mother at the same age circa 1965. Same hairdo, eyes and eyebrows and something undefinable - just seeing it takes me back to my childhood in an instant. Thankyou 🙏
She looks so knowing and that looks of cool defiance makes it such a singular portrait of a Victorian woman. Thank you for making me look at this afresh and for the gallery clip which was fascinating.
Ah, I love this! I think that you are right about them knowing each other well - there's such an expression of humour in her eyes, and I love her hand casually hooked into the chair.
I’ve always loved this portrait and was pleased to visit it on loan at the Tate Britain. It’s remarkably large and was placed facing a gallery entrance. Her eyes confronted each person walking in the room. She created unusual and wrapt grouping. Stunning portrait.
Living in Edinburgh, I love looking at painting. Please too take time to listen to William Dalrymple on a portrait of his great great grandmother Lady Dalrymple. It’s an amazing story and he tells it brilliantly in 10 mins on the Watts Gallery website. Fascinating ties to India.
I remember going to see this in the National Gallery of Scotland and the room attendant telling us of how her eyes followed you round the room. Then he got us to walk across the room to see it for ourselves and they did.
You've made me get up and walk around my laptop while maintaining eye contact!
Gosh India, this is one of my all time favourite paintings and you’ve just encapsulated in words why it is so mesmerising! I even have a postcard, purchased from the National Galleries in Edinburgh, on a shelf in my bedroom. I hate to think of her falling on hard times…but love to see her celebrated now.
The hard times bit is slightly unclear, and hopefully it was 'hard' as in from 'very rich' to 'slightly rich'. I love the painting too and it's one of the very few portraits that makes me really wish I'd known the sitter.
Wonderful portrait, for all the reasons mentioned. But I have to admit, I love the prettiness too - the gauziness of the fabric! Talking of fabric, I wonder whether anybody reading this can suggest a specialist dry cleaner for my discoloured crewel work? I know all the normal ones, but I know there are special ones that e.g. serious designer stores use. If anyone has a suggestion, obviously with no guarantees as to outcome (!) I would be very grateful.
Yes, the arms through the fabric etc - ravishing. I'm sorry you're having no joy with specialist dry cleaners. When I was in London I used Blossom & Brown Sycamore, https://www.blossomandbrowne.com/client/vintage-couture.php
Many thanks, India. Particularly since when I looked up the Percarbonate info it said DO NOT USE ON WOOL OR SILK. I will report back in due course. (By the way, have just used percarbonate on old, slightly manky looking mattress cover, the result looks blinding white and almost new. Hip hip hooray!)
The look 👀
Exactly 👀
Loved the recent Sargent exhibition at Tate Britain, including this portrait. I left wanting an opera cloak (searches eBay…). Just the thing for winter.
An opera cloak would be a marvellous thing to have.
[adds “opera cloak” to my “List Of Things I Must Have” which my husband considers to be a list of wank fripperies. What does he know!]
I have always loved this portrait because it’s obviously very beautiful and decorative but also because lady A is a dead ringer for my mother at the same age circa 1965. Same hairdo, eyes and eyebrows and something undefinable - just seeing it takes me back to my childhood in an instant. Thankyou 🙏
You're so welcome, and lucky your mother in 1965!
Beautiful 🤍
Sublime painting.
She looks so knowing and that looks of cool defiance makes it such a singular portrait of a Victorian woman. Thank you for making me look at this afresh and for the gallery clip which was fascinating.
Yes exactly - knowing and cool defiance is exactly right. She makes me wish I'd met her.
Such presence. She’d have been great fun to know.
She would have been GREAT.
Ah, I love this! I think that you are right about them knowing each other well - there's such an expression of humour in her eyes, and I love her hand casually hooked into the chair.
Yes - by the standards of the time she's almost slumped in it.
Wonderful, and what a sad story about her later years. I bet she was good company and I think the artist must have been beguiled.
I'm sure she was fine - less rich, rather than completely broke. Or at least I hope so.
Me too.
Determined to go and see this one - just gorgeous.
It's amazing in the flesh, and also really big.
I’ve always loved this portrait and was pleased to visit it on loan at the Tate Britain. It’s remarkably large and was placed facing a gallery entrance. Her eyes confronted each person walking in the room. She created unusual and wrapt grouping. Stunning portrait.
I love the idea of groups of people staring enraptured - I'm not surprised.