Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
A charming portrait of an attractive young woman painted during the reign of King William IV.
She holds to her breast a white rose; white roses mean purity and innocence. They can be used to show that you feel that your love is pure and that you believe the recipient to be pure. White roses also mean you are loyal.
It seems likely that this portrait was commissioned to commemorate a proposed marriage, at this time engagement rings were not always worn.
SIR MARTIN ARCHER SHEE (b Dublin, 20 Dec. 1769; d Brighton, 19 Aug. 1850). Irish portrait painter and writer on art, active from 1788 in London. There he became second only to Sir Tomas Lawrence as the leading society portraitist, painting members of the Royal Family and other aristocrats. His work was very much influenced by Lawrence, and he had a very active Studio and Circle. In 1830 he succeeded him as President of the Royal Academy, which he guided through a difficult period when it was under attack from Haydon and other disaffected artists. Examples of his work—which in style lies between the brilliance of Lawrence and the precision of West—are in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
SIZE: 34.5 x 29.25 x 3 inches including the frame.
PROVENANCE: A long standing private collection in Devon.
Roy Precious - Antiques & Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.
Roy and nadine precious: specialists in portraiture from the 16th to the 20th century. Established in 1972.
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Portrait of a Young Lady C.1835, Circle or Studio of Sir Martin Archer Shee.
