Study of a Seated Woman 1778–1810 John Hoppner British Hoppner became the leading portraitist working in London after Sir Joshua Reynolds retired in 1789. Early In his career, the artist often focused on literary or dramatic subjects, and the present work relates to "Clara at the Tomb of Eloisa," reproduced in mezzotint in 1786. The theme comes from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Julie; ou, La Nouvelle Héloïse," a novel in which the heroine, Héloïse (Eloisa), is separated from her great love Saint-Preux, and dies hoping to be united with him in heaven. The artist imagined Eloisa's close friend Clara
Study of a Seated Woman 1778–1810 John Hoppner British Hoppner became the leading portraitist working in London after Sir Joshua Reynolds retired in 1789. Early In his career, the artist often focused on literary or dramatic subjects, and the present work relates to "Clara at the Tomb of Eloisa," reproduced in mezzotint in 1786. The theme comes from Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "Julie; ou, La Nouvelle Héloïse," a novel in which the heroine, Héloïse (Eloisa), is separated from her great love Saint-Preux, and dies hoping to be united with him in heaven. The artist imagined Eloisa's close friend Clara mourning at her tomb and used his wife, Phoebe, as a model. Black and white chalks are applied in a loose, expressive manner reminiscent of Thomas Gainsborough and a romantically overgrown landscape suggested by rapidly indicated trees and hints of Study of a Seated Woman 341811
Size: 2905px × 3477px
Photo credit: © MET/BOT / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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