Mrs. Decourcy

Maker John Russell (British, 1745-1806)

ClassificationsDRAWINGS

Daten.d.

Mediumfabricated chalks on blue [laid] paper, inscribed in pen and brown ink

Dimensions12 3/4 x 10 3/8 in. (32.4 x 26.4 cm.)

InscribedInscribed: Mrs. Decourcy

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Sir Bruce Ingram Collection

Status

Not on view

Label TextRussell was one of the most popular pastel artists in late eighteenth-century England, commanding a large and fashionable clientele. His use of colors such as red, blue, and yellow on blue paper give his portraits a lively brilliancy, while the smudging of the outlines creates a blurred effect, lending volume to the figure. In this striking image, Russell depicts the sitter, probably the wife of his friend the Reverend R. Decourcy, as a glamorous, somewhat enigmatic beauty. The white-gloved hand, one finger resting on her temple, the slight arch of her left eyebrow, and the subtle upward curve of her lips, give the impression that she is perhaps caught up in a pleasant inner fantasy. Though not a famous woman, Mrs. Decourcy's enchanting portrait would have provided a prize to collectors.

Object number63.52.208

Terms

Exhibitions

Friends and Family: British Artists Depict their Circle