Portrait of a Lady with a Harp

Portrait of a Lady with a Harp

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Portrait, possibly of The Hon. Grace O’Brien (1802-1871), eldest daughter of Sir Edward O’Brien, 4th Baronet O’Brien, of Dromoland Castle, Co. Clare, and Lady Charlotte (née Smith, of Cahermoyle, Co. Limerick), or it may depict Grace’s younger sister, Harriet O’Brien Monsell (1811-83). The subject depicted full length, standing, directed front, with head in three-quarter right profile and gazing right; wearing an all-white satin gown with off-shoulder, puffed cap-sleeve overlaid with a white-tulle gigot sleeve, a white-satin sash with gold buckle at the waist and a flower-and-leaf motif brooch at the décolleté, a white, tulle veil attached to her hair bun, white stockings and black slippers, cross-tied at the ankle; resting on her forehead, a circlet with single teardrop pearl, at her throat, a double-strand pearl necklace, on her left wrist, a triple-strand pearl bracelet with gold clasp, hanging below her jawline, a pair of large teardrop-pearl earrings, a gold band on her left ring-finger; her right arm resting on a giltwood floor-harp; to her left, a whippet in sitting position; at the left edge and upper right of the composition, a draped, scarlet curtain; set against a wooded landscape; unsigned.

RDS Treasures Collection

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RDS Library & Archives

Painting

Ca.1825-1830

Oil on canvas

237 x 145 cm