Mrs. Robinson
ca. 1784
Mary Robinson was the ultimate 18th-century celebrity—actress, poet, and mistress to the future King George IV. Reynolds captures her in a classical profile view, mimicking ancient Roman coins, which was a huge Neoclassical trend of the time. She sports a towering powdered wig that was the absolute height of 1780s fashion. The brushwork is surprisingly loose and sketchy, giving her a sense of life and immediacy rather than stiff formality, essentially making her the Kardashian of the Georgian era.
Location: Wallace Collection, London
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