Terms and conditions of use
Lady Rous née Charlotte Maria Whittaker, second wife of the 6th Baronet, later, Earl of Stradbroke
(1796)
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
236.7 × 146.5 cm irreg. (image) 237.8 × 146.8 cm (canvas)
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Gift of the Countess of Stradbroke through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program, 2010
Gallery location
Not on display
About this work
In 1792 John Lord Rous married Charlotte Whittaker. Soon after their marriage, William Beechey was commissioned to create life-size portraits of the couple. This corresponds with Beechey’s period of greatest success, when he was appointed court portraitist to Queen Charlotte. He was so pleased with this portrait of Lady Rous that he sent it to the prestigious Royal Academy exhibition for 1796. Beechey here theatrically posed the figure in a stage-like setting, and he has handled the drapery in a free and lively manner.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
London, England
Accession Number
2010.108
Department
International Painting
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
Subjects (general)
Portraits
Subjects (specific)
dresses (garments) full-length figures hat veils nobles (aristocrats) white (colour) wives women (female humans)
Movements
Georgian
Frame
Lady Rous née Charlotte Maria Whittaker, second wife of the 6th Baronet, later, Earl of Stradbroke came into the collection in 2010 with a Carlo Maratta style frame. The frame is believed to be the original presentation of the painting and is representative of the popularity of this style of frame in England in the second half of the eighteenth century.
The Carlo Maratta frame is based on a Roman frame that found its way back to England through the Grand Tour visitors of the eighteenth century
The frame is carved in soft wood, and has been partly re-gilded at some point in the past. The corners are mitred and cross-splined on the reverse.
The frame is one of a pair – the other on the companion portrait of The Rt Hon. John Rous.
Both portraits were cleaned and restored in 2009 - 2010.
Frame Details
Framemaker
Unknown - 18th century
Date
c.1796
Materials
carved timber and gold leaf