Study for the portrait of Jane, Duchess of Gordon

Sir Joshua Reynolds (after), 1723 - 1792



Study for the portrait of Jane, Duchess of Gordon

Sir Joshua Reynolds (after) 1723 - 1792

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Sir Joshua Reynolds. The drawing is of a woman, shown from behind but with her head turned to face the viewer. She is wearing a long dress which reaches to the floor, with a scalloped detail on the side. She is holding a circular object in her right hand. The interior of a room is very loosely sketched behind, with what appears to be a curtain hanging in the top left corner. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "19. SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS, P.R.A. (b. 1723; d. 1792) STUDY FOR THE PORTRAIT OF JANE, DUCHESS OF GORDON Ruskin School of Drawing, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. Bistre, brush and pen on rough cream-coloured paper. 49.5 x 30.5 cm. (19 1/2 x 12 in.). Jane (Maxwell), first wife of Alexander, fourth Duke of Gordon (b. 1749 (?), d. 1812). A study for the painting of 1775, now belonging to H.H. the Duchess of Fife. One of a series of six presented by John Ruskin to the Drawing School which he founded in the University Galleries in 1871. There is another study of similar character (for a whole-length female portrait) still in the collection at Brantwood. Reynolds' drawings are extremely rare, and show little interest in draughtsmanship as such, the artist's aim in such studies as these being to set down in rapid and summary fashion the main plan of the design, the pose of the sitter, and the relation of light to dark tones. L. B. [Ruskin's Works, Library edition, Vol. XXI, p. 24; Graves and Cronin, Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Vol. I, p. 370; with reproductions, Vol. II, p. 552.]"


Object Name

Study for the portrait of Jane, Duchess of Gordon

Date Created

1923

accession number

1923.1000

Place of creation

Europe

Medium


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