Frances (Woodis) Borlase, later Frances Grenfell, and Pascoe George Norman Grenfell

Maker Martin Archer Shee (British, 1769-1850)

SitterSitter: Frances (Woodis) Borlase, later Frances Grenfell (British, 1769 - 1851)

SitterSitter: Pascoe George Norman Grenfell (British, 1798 - 1830)

Collections

Grand Manner Portraiture

ClassificationsPAINTINGS

Dateca.1804

Mediumoil on canvas

Dimensionscanvas: 93 7/8 × 58 in. (238.4 × 147.3 cm.) frame: 101 × 68 1/2 × 5 1/8 in. (256.5 × 174 × 13 cm.)

DescriptionThis is a portrait of Frances (Woodis) Borlase and one of her children. Both are standing full-length on the steps of a terrace, turned three-quarters left, the child is looking up at his mother.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens

Status

On view

Label TextFrances Borlase is presented in an alluring manner that seems to belie her role as a mother. Gazing out from beneath the shadows of her curling hair and enveloping scarf, she establishes an intimate rapport with the viewer. In painting his sitter’s lips parted slightly to reveal a subtle flash of white teeth, the artist makes a striking break with established portrait conventions. The relaxation of propriety may relate to the unusual circumstances of this commission. Shee’s patron was most likely William Grenfell, the father of three of Frances Borlase’s children, but not yet her husband. Shee focuses on Grenfell’s future wife’s beauty instead of her unconventional family arrangements.

Bibliography

British paintings at the Huntington

Object number20.4