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Portrait of Mary Wise
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Mary’s modest and contemplative demeanor is a counterpoint to a rather elaborate ensemble consisting of a gown embroidered with gold flower sprigs, trimmed with lace and pearls, and tied with a gold sash, as well as a gold-striped veil and a bracelet with eight gold bands. Gainsborough’s compact oval format and the sitter’s informal pose lend this portrait an air of intimacy.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit linePortrait of Mary Wise, c. 1774. Thomas Gainsborough (British, 1727–1788). Oil on canvas; unframed: 76.2 x 63.6 cm (30 x 25 1/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Collection, 1944.82
