First Previous 2 OF 14 NextLast

Hester Lynch Piozzi (née Salusbury, later Mrs Thrale)

2 of 14 portraits of Hester Lynch Piozzi (née Salusbury, later Mrs Thrale)

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation Close

Hester Lynch Piozzi (née Salusbury, later Mrs Thrale)

by George Dance
pencil, 1793
9 3/4 in. x 7 1/2 in. (248 mm x 191 mm)
Purchased, 1898
Primary Collection
NPG 1151

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • George Dance (1741-1825), Architect and portrait draughtsman. Artist or producer associated with 322 portraits, Sitter in 7 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Older women tended not to observe every fashion and they are often shown wearing outmoded dress. In this drawing, the famous diarist, Hester Piozzi, is shown in profile, dominated by her wide, 'frizzed' hairstyle which was highly fashionable in the 1780s. It is tied with a simple 'bandeau' ribbon in keeping with the gradual trend towards the Neo-classical at this time. A tiny hat is perched on top of the whole ensemble. In contrast, the simplicity of English dress styles of the period prevails for the rest of her outfit; she wears an 'English dress' or robe à l'anglaise as it was known, made of linen or cotton with a delicate flower pattern. A starched piece of cloth is crossed over her chest to protect her modesty.

Related worksback to top

  • NPG D14717: Hester Lynch Piozzi (née Salusbury, later Mrs Thrale) (after)

Linked publicationsback to top

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Events of 1793back to top

Current affairs

Whig MP Charles Grey enters a motion for parliamentary reform but is defeated in the House of Commons.

Art and science

Radical philosopher William Godwin publishes Political Justice, an inflamatory document that promoted rational anarchism. This crystallised a wider feeling that a new era of world peace and progress was beginning.
Sir William Beechey is appointed Portrait Painter to her Majesty, Queen Charlotte.

International

Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette are executed and the Reign of Terror begins.
France declares war on Britain, Holland and then Spain. William Pitt addresses the House of Commons and Britain hesitantly joins the first coalition of anti-revolutionary European states to oppose the French threat.
Attack on Corsica in which Captain Horatio Nelson loses an eye.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.