Theophila Gwatkin (née Palmer) ('The Strawberry Girl')

1 portrait by Thomas Agnew & Sons Ltd

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Theophila Gwatkin (née Palmer) ('The Strawberry Girl')

by Samuel Cousins, published by Thomas Agnew & Sons Ltd, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
mezzotint, published 1 May 1873 (1772-1773)
18 7/8 in. x 14 7/8 in. (478 mm x 379 mm) paper size
Acquired, 1988
Reference Collection
NPG D35087

Sitterback to top

Artistsback to top

  • Samuel Cousins (1801-1887), Engraver. Artist or producer associated with 178 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.
  • Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal Academy. Artist or producer associated with 1425 portraits, Sitter associated with 40 portraits.
  • Thomas Agnew & Sons Ltd, Publisher. Artist or producer associated with 32 portraits.

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Events of 1873back to top

Current affairs

The public entertainment centre Alexandra Palace, designed by architect Owen Jones (associated with the Crystal Palace) and built between Wood Green and Muswell Hill in North London, burns down within sixteen days of opening. Named after Alexandra of Denmark, married to Prince Edward, the Prince of Wales, the palace was quickly rebuilt, and has since been used as a transmission centre for the BBC, and as a musical entertainment venue.

Art and science

Edith Coleridge edits her late mother Sara Coleridge's Memoir and Letters. Sara, the daughter of the poet and philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge, was an author, translator and editor of her father's works.

International

Inspired by prospectors' demands for better quality trousers during the 1850s Gold Rush, Levi Strauss develops a trouser made with twilled cotton cloth from France called 'serge de Nimes', later known as denim. This year, he patents the process of putting rivets in the trousers for strength, introducing 'blue jeans' to the world.

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Mary Banas

03 August 2020, 15:47

Theophila Palmer was was deaf, which might explain her wide eyes and intense expression in the print. She was very young here. This was painted by her uncle, Sir Joshua Reynolds who she had a close relationship with and he painted her multiple times throughout her life. She was a painter as well and married Robert Lovell Gatkwin — they had ten children. She died at 91 years old.