Portrait of Sarah Harrop (Mrs. Bates) as a Muse
1780-1781
Angelica Kauffmann, one of the rare female founding members of the Royal Academy, captured the famous soprano Sarah Harrop in all her musical glory. Dressed in a shimmering pink gown with a towering, flower-adorned hairstyle, Harrop poses as a Muse, casually holding a golden lyre and a scroll of sheet music against a dramatic, waterfall-filled landscape. It’s a perfect snapshot of 18th-century celebrity culture, blending classical mythology with the rock-star status of a leading opera singer.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
Location: National Portrait Gallery, London
Views: 4