John Opie

Mary Wollstonecraft (Mrs William Godwin)

c.1790–1

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display

Artist: John Opie 1761–1807
Medium: Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions: Support: 759 x 638 mm
frame: 1005 x 875 x 130 mm
Collection: Tate
Acquisition: Purchased 1884
Reference: N01167

Display caption

The pioneering feminist Mary Wollstonecraft is shown as though distracted momentarily from her studies. The sombre colours of her costume and the cloistered, darkened setting convey a sense of seriousness Iand dedication.

Painting a woman in such a role would have been more controversial in an earlier age. It was generally thought that only wealthy men could possess intellectual power. By stressing universal human values, Sensibility inadvertently helped pave the way for claims that women – at least middle-class women – might have as much moral and mental strength as men.

Gallery label, September 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

objects(23,036)
- furnishings(3,046)
  - desk(81)
- reading, writing, printed matter(5,035)
  - book - non-specific(1,959)
  - ink bottle(13)
  - quill pen(31)
people(35,245)
- adults(22,957)
  - woman(9,099)
- named individuals(12,433)
  - Godwin, Mary(18)
  - Wollstonecraft, Mary(1)
- portraits(4,341)
  - individuals: female(1,659)
work and occupations(14,300)
- literary(2,924)
  - author(1,928)

You might like

John Opie, ‘Mrs S.W. Reynolds’ 1795

John Opie Mrs S.W. Reynolds

1795

N02877

J.W. Chandler, ‘William Godwin’ 1798

J.W. Chandler William Godwin

1798

N01208

John Hoppner, ‘Mrs Williams’ c.1790

John Hoppner Mrs Williams

c.1790

N05582

John Opie, ‘The Artist’s Mother’ c.1791

John Opie The Artist’s Mother

c.1791

N03518

George Romney, ‘Mr and Mrs William Lindow’ 1772

George Romney Mr and Mrs William Lindow

1772

N01396

Sir Henry Raeburn Mrs Cay

date not known

N05639

Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Mr Huddesford and Mr Bampfylde’ c.1778

Sir Joshua Reynolds Mr Huddesford and Mr Bampfylde

c.1778

On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights N00754

Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Mrs Siddons’ 1804

Sir Thomas Lawrence Mrs Siddons

1804

On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N00188

manner of Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Mrs Fox’ c.1780

Manner of Sir Joshua Reynolds Mrs Fox

c.1780

N00891

Ozias Humphry, ‘Elizabeth, Countess of Craven, Later Margravine of Anspach’ c.1780–3

Ozias Humphry Elizabeth, Countess of Craven, Later Margravine of Anspach

c.1780–3

T00756

George Romney, ‘Mrs Robert Trotter of Bush’ 1788–9

George Romney Mrs Robert Trotter of Bush

1788–9

N02943

George Romney, ‘Mrs Mark Currie’ 1789

George Romney Mrs Mark Currie

1789

N01651

John Opie, ‘Portrait of a Lady in the Character of Cressida’ exhibited 1800

John Opie Portrait of a Lady in the Character of Cressida

exhibited 1800

N01026

Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Mrs Siddons, ? as Mrs Haller in ‘The Stranger’’ c.1796–8

Sir Thomas Lawrence Mrs Siddons, ? as Mrs Haller in ‘The Stranger’

c.1796–8

N00785

Sir Thomas Lawrence, ‘Miss Laura Dorothea Ross (Mrs Francis Robertson)’ c.1798–1804

Sir Thomas Lawrence Miss Laura Dorothea Ross (Mrs Francis Robertson)

c.1798–1804

N00136