Oil paint on canvas
Tate Collection
Works with images
General Collection
Collection
<a href="https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/arthur-devis-2799" aria-label="More by Arthur Devis" data-gtm-name="header_link_artist" data-gtm-destination="page--artist">Arthur Devis</a>
Portrait a Lady
Purchased 1918
adults
architecture
clothing and personal items
country house
dress
estate
individuals: female
landscape
objects
people
portraits
purse
residential
woman
wooded
<p>This portrait of an unknown lady in a landscape is typical of the small-scale single figures and 'conversation piece' groups in which Devis specialized all his life. His neat and genteel style appealed greatly to the newly enriched middle classes and his attention to detail is of great value to social historians. The house in the background almost certainly portrays the lady's actual home. She holds a knotting shuttle for making lace fringes, an activity considered highly suitable for the ladies of wealthy households. The ball of thread would be in the drawstring work bag hanging from her wrist. Her costume dates the painting to around 1750-55.</p><p><em>Gallery label, September 2004</em></p>
painting oil paint canvas
Portrait of a Lady
support: 610 × 406 mm
Purchased 1918
<p>This <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/portrait" title="Glossary definition for 'Portrait'"><span>portrait</span></a> of an unknown lady in a <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/l/landscape" title="Glossary definition for 'Landscape'"><span>landscape</span></a> is typical of the small-scale single figures and '<a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/c/conversation-piece" title="Glossary definition for 'Conversation piece'"><span>conversation piece</span></a>' groups in which Devis specialized all his life. His neat and genteel style appealed greatly to the newly enriched middle classes and his attention to detail is of great value to social historians. The house in the background almost certainly portrays the lady's actual home. She holds a knotting shuttle for making lace fringes, an activity considered highly suitable for the ladies of wealthy households. The ball of thread would be in the drawstring work bag hanging from her wrist. Her costume dates the <a class="glossarylinktopopup" data-gtm-destination="article-page" data-gtm-name="body_text_link" href="http://www.tate.org.uk/learn/online-resources/glossary/p/painting" title="Glossary definition for 'Painting'"><span>painting</span></a> to around 1750-55.</p>
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2004-09-03T00:00:00
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adults architecture clothing and personal items country house dress estate individuals: female landscape objects people portraits purse residential woman wooded