Collection Online
Susanna Highmore
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
91.5 × 71.1 cm
Accession Number
1761-4
Department
International Painting
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Felton Bequest, 1947
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work

This delightful portrait of the artist’s daughter, Susanna, shows why she was known to be a provocative beauty. Susanna, who loved animals, is accompanied by her two cats and a parrot perched on a swinging ring. The antics of Poll the parrot were described by John Hawkesworth, a family friend, in verse in April 1750: ‘Whilst Poll’s in gilded prison hung, / Singing to all (himself unsung) / Pho! Out! Fie for shame! / …Tho’ Poll’s a saucy rogue.’

Subjects (general)
Animals Portraits
Subjects (specific)
daughters domestic cat (species) dresses (garments) girls miniatures (paintings) parrot three-quarter-length figures youth (people)
Movements
Rococo