John Russell R.A. (1745-1806) Pastel Portrait of Miss Mary Linwood

Fine pastel of Miss Mary Linwood (1755–1845), needlework artist and school mistress aged 19, with a book, entitled 'Da Vinci on Painting’ signed signed J. Russell/1785 and housed in a carved gilt wood Carlo Maratta style frame.

Mary Linwood (1755-1845) Both a needlework artist and school mistress, Mary Linwood was also an expert in needlepainting, the art of portrait creation through embroidery. She faithfully reproduced oils and other paintings by exchanging brushstrokes for stitches, and she worked these in crewel wool with silk threads for highlights! She went on to produce a collection of 64 pictures and her fame grew as a result of her exhibitions. The first was in London in 1787 and of her creations (her copy of a painting by the Italian artist Salvator Rosa actually sold for more than the original. Mary exhibited globally including in Russia and met most of the crowned heads of Europe! Catherine The Great offered her £40,000 for her entire collection and the while the Tsar suggested £3,000 for just one example. Ultimately Miss Linwod preferred for her work to remain in England completing her last work at the age of seventy-eight, she lived to be to be ninety and worked as a school mistress until a year before her death

John Russell R.A (1745-1806) Royal Academician John Russell was not only Britain’s foremost pastellist, he was also one of the most prolific. He exhibited more pastels at the Royal Academy than any other artist, and left a body of work far larger than that of any other pastellist working before 1800. He also wrote about his art, as well as leaving a series of diaries principally devoted to his spiritual development as a strict Methodist.

Provenance: (London, Christie’s, 22.VI.1901, Lot 64, as of Miss Linwood, 155 gns; C. Wertheimer. [?T. M. McLean, 71 Haymarket, London; sale p.m., London, Christie’s, 30.I.1909, Lot 30, as Miss Linwood, by Cotes, with pendant, Russell, Goldfish, 31/2 gns; Smith)] . Duveen Brothers 1911, unidentified. Mme Dumas; Galerie Charles Brunner, Paris. William H. Schab Gallery, New York, 1969.. Paris, Drouot, Ader Picard Tajan, 7.VI.1989. Paris art market 2008; Paris, Drouot Estimations, 6.VI.2008. Paris, Sotheby’s, 22.VI.2010, all as inconnue. PC 2012). Exh.: Russell 1911, no. 8, unidentified sitter; New York 1969, no. 21. Lit.: Dorange 2010, no. 5 repr., inconnue [new ident.] f?s. Private collection Switzerland.

Higher Resolution images on request. Worldwide shipping available.

Sheet: 23" x 17" / 59cm x 43m. Frame: 31.5" x 25.5" / 79.5cm x 64cm.