Oil paint on canvas
Tate Britain
Tate Collection
Works with images
Works on display
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/john-opie-406" aria-label="More by John Opie" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">John Opie</a>
Portrait a Lady in Character Cressida
Bequeathed by George Silk 1834
‘Troilus and Cressida’
actions: expressive
actions: postures and motions
adults
arm / arms raised
Chryseis / Cressida
classical myths: events, themes
classical myths: gods and heroes
clothing and personal items
dress: fantasy/fancy
fancy dress / role play
group
groups
individuals: female
landscape
literature and fiction
man
objects
people
portraits
religion and belief
Shakespeare
smiling
society
standing
theatrical costume
Trojan War
veil
woman
wooded
<p>We do not know the identity of this woman, but she is probably a celebrity or actress who contemporary viewers would have recognised. Opie was working at a time when fame was becoming an increasingly important part of artistic success. This painting appeared at the Royal Academy’s annual exhibition in 1800. Artists jostled to grab public attention, painting more flamboyant and dramatic pictures. Opie depicts his sitter as the heroine of Shakespeare’s tragedy Troilus and Cressida.</p><p><em>Gallery label, October 2019</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
25 July 2005 – 26 July 2009
2009-07-26
25 July 2005
2005-07-25
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2005-07-25
Romantic Painting in Britain
Collection based display
1 September 2007 – 1 January 2008
2008-01-01
1 September 2007 – 1 January 2008
2008-01-01
2007-09-01
Royal Cornwall Museum (Truro, UK)
http://www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk
2007-09-01
John Opie: A Celebration of the "Cornish Wonder"
Loan-out
2 September 2011 – 9 April 2012
2012-04-09
2 September 2011 – 9 April 2012
2012-04-09
2011-09-02
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2011-09-02
Romantic Shakespeare
Collection based display
20 May 2019 – 23 February 2020
2020-02-23
20 May 2019 – 23 February 2020
2020-02-23
2019-05-20
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2019-05-20
John Opie
Collection based display
26 September 2022
26 September 2022
2022-09-26
Tate Britain (London, UK)
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/
2022-09-26
Gallery 15
Collection based display
Portrait of a Lady in the Character of Cressida
support: 2337 × 1448 mm

Bequeathed by George Silk 1834
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<p>We do not know the identity of this woman, but she is probably a celebrity or actress who contemporary viewers would have recognised. Opie was working at a time when fame was becoming an increasingly important part of artistic success. This painting appeared at the Royal Academy’s annual exhibition in 1800. Artists jostled to grab public attention, painting more flamboyant and dramatic pictures. Opie depicts his sitter as the heroine of Shakespeare’s tragedy Troilus and Cressida.</p>
</div>

Display caption
2019-10-04T00:00:00
display-caption
DISPLAY_CAPTION
actions: expressive actions: postures and motions adults arm / arms raised Chryseis / Cressida classical myths: events, themes classical myths: gods and heroes clothing and personal items dress: fantasy/fancy fancy dress / role play group groups individuals: female landscape literature and fiction man objects people portraits religion and belief Shakespeare smiling society standing theatrical costume ‘Troilus and Cressida’ Trojan War veil woman wooded