Portrait of Catherine Grey, Lady Manners
The Irish poet Lady Manners rejected as “unflattering” this portrait representing her as the goddess Juno, symbolized here by the peacock. Thomas Lawrence exhibited the painting at the Royal Academy in 1794 with the label “to be disposed of [sold],” but it was still in the artist’s collection when he died. Though it offended Lady Manners, the painting displays all the hallmarks of Lawrence’s flamboyant style:dazzling, fluid brushwork and an innovative use of unconventional colors that helped secure his role as the most fashionable portrait painter in turn-of-the-century Britain.
Details
- Palette
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Select a color to find related artworks.
- Medium
- oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- framed: height 2.805 m, width 1.85 m, depth 0.09 m; unframed: height 2.553 m, width 1.58 m
- Origin
- England, 18th century
- Department
- European Painting and Sculpture
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image provider
- cleveland-museum-of-art
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Credit
- Bequest of John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Art Genome Taxonomy
10 tags
Subject Matter
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Portrait Both · 99%
The title identifies the work as a portrait of Catherine Grey, Lady Manners, and the image centers on a single sitter presented in a formal pose.
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Individual Portrait Both · 99%
One named individual dominates the composition; the catalog title identifies her as Catherine Grey, Lady Manners.
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Classical Mythology Both · 99%
The museum description explicitly states that Lady Manners is represented as the goddess Juno, while the image prominently includes the peacock associated with that representation.
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Animals Visual · 99%
Two peacocks are clearly visible at the right of the composition, including one with a large patterned tail.
Visual Qualities
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Asymmetrical Visual · 94%
The composition is visibly unevenly weighted, with the figure near the center, an expansive open landscape at left, and the dense peacock and architectural forms at right.
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Curvilinear Forms Visual · 90%
Sweeping curves are prominent in the sitter’s dress and veil, the peacock feathers, foliage, and the rounded architectural elements.
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Highly Detailed Visual · 86%
The peacock tail, foliage, costume details, balustrade, and architectural ornament receive concentrated, finely articulated treatment in contrast with the softer background passages.
Medium and Techniques
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Oil Painting Both · 99%
The catalog identifies the work as oil on canvas, and the image visibly shows an oil painting with modeled figures, layered brushwork, and painted atmospheric effects.
Time Periods
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18th Century Art Metadata · 99%
The catalog dates the painting to 1794 and places its origin in England in the 18th century.
Geographic Regions
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British and Irish Art Metadata · 90%
The artist is identified as British, and the catalog description identifies Lady Manners as an Irish poet.
Source & rights
Thomas Lawrence (British, 1769–1830). Portrait of Catherine Grey, Lady Manners. Cleveland Museum of Art.