Not on display
- Artist
- Benjamin West 1738–1820
- Medium
- Oil paint on canvas
- Dimensions
- Support: 1264 x 1003 mm
- Collection
- Tate
- Acquisition
- Presented by the daughters of Maj-Gen. G.E.H. Beauchamp through the Art Fund 1941
- Reference
- N05265
Display caption
Like many grand portraits of women in the eighteenth century, this picture was commissioned to mark the sitter’s marriage. She is Mary Palmer (1760-1848), who married Sir Thomas Beauchamp-Proctor in March 1778 (his portrait can be seen on the other end of this wall). She is shown decorating a statue of Hymen, the Roman god of marriage, with flowers. These classical references and her richly painted costume are meant to evoke the noble art of the past. Her hair, however, is piled high in the fashion of the day.
Gallery label, February 2010
Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.
Explore
- nature(45,215)
-
- plants and flowers(2,727)
-
- garland(32)
- fine arts and music(3,744)
-
- sculpture, classical(210)
- baby(530)
- individuals: female(1,704)
- classical myths: gods and heroes(607)
-
- putto(64)
You might like
-
Benjamin West Sir Thomas Beauchamp-Proctor, Bt
1777 -
Benjamin West The Golden Age
1776 -
Benjamin West Sketch for ‘The Ascension’
c.1782 -
Benjamin West The Last Supper
1784 -
Benjamin West Sketch for ‘The Installation of the Order of the Garter’
c.1787 -
Benjamin West Cleombrotus Ordered into Banishment by Leonidas II, King of Sparta
1768 -
Benjamin West Pylades and Orestes Brought as Victims before Iphigenia
1766 -
Sir Joshua Reynolds Three Ladies Adorning a Term of Hymen
1773 -
Benjamin West Mrs Worrell as Hebe
c.1775–8 -
Benjamin West View from the Terrace at Windsor
?1792 -
Benjamin West The Bard
1778 -
Sir Joshua Reynolds Lady Bampfylde
1776–7 -
Sir Joshua Reynolds and studio Portrait of a Lady
date not known -
Thomas Stothard Lady Reclining
date not known -
Sir Joshua Reynolds Lady Talbot
exhibited 1782