Lady Mary Wortley Montagu with her son, Edward Wortley Montagu, and attendants

Sittersback to top

• Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (1689-1762), Writer and traveller. Sitter associated with 9 portraits.
• Edward Wortley Montagu (1713-1776), Writer and traveller; son of Lady Mary Wortley Montagu. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

• Jean Baptiste Vanmour (1671-1737). Artist associated with 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This portrait was painted in Constantinople, which can be seen in the background. Lady Mary is shown in Turkish dress with her son and two attendants, one playing the Turkish lute, the other perhaps holding a letter. The country and its people fascinated her; her letters home cover a huge range of topics. In one letter Lady Mary Wortley describes her Turkish clothes, as worn in her portrait:

Linked publicationsback to top

• Birkett, Dea; Morris, Jan (foreword), Off the Beaten Track: Three Centuries of Women Travellers, 2004 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 7 July to 31 October 2004), p. 47
• Cooper, John, A Guide to the National Portrait Gallery, 2009, p. 31
• Ingamells, John, National Portrait Gallery: Mid-Georgian Portraits 1760-1790, 2004, p. 341
• Kerslake, John, Early Georgian Portraits, 1977, p. 188
• Saywell, David; Simon, Jacob, Complete Illustrated Catalogue, 2004, p. 719

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

• Off the Beaten Track (7 July 2004 - 31 October 2004)

Subjects & Themesback to top

• Carpets and textiles
• Children
• Costumes and national dress
• Diversity
• Diversity tour
• Fur accessories
• Group portraits
• Hats and head-attire
• In profile
• Jewellery
• Landscapes
• Making music
• On display at the Gallery
• Servants, slaves and attendants
• Travellers and explorers tour