Mrs Mary Robinson
1783 - 1784
Sir Joshua Reynolds captured the infamous Mary Robinson in a striking profile against a moody, stormy sea, highlighting her elaborate powdered hair and the dark ribbon choker that became her signature. Known as 'Perdita,' she was a celebrated actress who famously caught the eye of the Prince of Wales while playing a Shakespearean role, eventually becoming his first mistress. Reynolds painted her during a turbulent time in her life, using loose, expressive brushstrokes that give her a sense of fleeting, romantic melancholy rather than stiff aristocratic formality.
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