Lady Elizabeth Delmé and Her Children facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lady Elizabeth Delmé and Her Children |
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| Artist | Joshua Reynolds |
| Year | 1779 |
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 238.4 cm × 147.2 cm (93+7⁄8 in × 57+15⁄16 in) |
| Location | National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. |
Lady Elizabeth Delmé and Her Children is a famous portrait painting from 1779. It was created by the well-known artist Joshua Reynolds. This large painting uses oil on canvas and shows Lady Elizabeth Delmé with her two children. You can see it today at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
The people in the painting are Lady Elizabeth Delmé and her children, John and Isabella Elizabeth. They posed for Reynolds in 1777. Reynolds was paid 300 pounds for his work in 1780. He also made some small changes to the painting in 1789.
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Understanding the Painting
This painting is a great example of Joshua Reynolds's work. He was a very important artist in his time. He wanted his portraits to be more than just simple pictures of people.
What is the Grand Manner?
Reynolds believed in something called the "Grand Manner." This was a special way of painting that made people look very important and noble. It was about showing their high social rank.
For example, even though the children would have grown older during the two years it took to paint, Reynolds didn't try to show their exact age. He focused on making them look grand and dignified. He wanted each person to have the look that people of their importance usually showed.
Artistic Inspiration
Reynolds often looked to older, famous artists for ideas. He wanted his paintings to feel as important as their masterpieces.
Influences from Old Masters
Reynolds used a triangular shape for the people in the painting. This was a nod to the Madonna paintings by Raphael, like the Madonna of the Goldfinch. This helped to give the painting a grand and classic feel.
You might also notice the brown colors in the background. These were inspired by artists like Rembrandt and Titian. They used similar colors to create a rich and deep atmosphere.
Lady Delmé's Appearance
Lady Delmé herself is painted with great detail and elegance. She has a long, graceful face and eyes that look a bit sleepy. Her hair is powdered and styled very tall, which was fashionable at the time.
She wears a white dress and a cloak. This cloak is made of rose-colored satin and flows down over her knees. It shows off her beauty and hints at her wealth and high status.
Portraiture as History Painting
Experts like Cynthia Saltzman say that this painting is one of Reynolds's best. It shows his goal to make portraits as important as "history paintings." History paintings usually showed big events or stories.
English portraits from this time often aimed to flatter the person being painted. They showed the sitter as a powerful and important person. This made it seem like their very existence made the world a better place.
Images for kids
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Lady Elizabeth Delmé and Her Children
