Madame Vestris

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed on the back: Madame Vestris in the character/of Mrs Ford/, followed by an illegible signature.
Inscribed on an old label formerly on the back of the picture: Madam Vestris/By Clint/Engraved. There is also a damaged cutting from a sale catalogue: Madame Vestris, full length, an original co ... / framed; and Mezzo print from the same

This portraitback to top

This water-colour, showing the sitter in the character of Mistress Ford in the 'Merry Wives of Windsor', was engraved by S. W. Reynolds, as after Lover, published T. C. Smith, 1826 (example in British Museum). The label on the back giving the artist as Clint is, therefore, erroneous.

Physical descriptionback to top

Fresh complexion, dark eyes and hair. Dressed in a white satin and brown or dark purple dress with lace panels, bodice with pearl border, a long pearl chain and tassel, and a pink bonnet with a pearl border and tassel. Standing in a green and brown garden scene, with red and white flowers and a brown stone pedestal and urn. In the background is a distant view of Windsor Castle and the Thames, with a blue and grey sky above.

Provenanceback to top

A. W. Holliday, purchased from him, 1935.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Ormond, Early Victorian Portraits, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1973, and is as published then. For the most up-to-date details on individual Collection works, we recommend reading the information provided in the Search the Collection results on this website in parallel with this text.

View all known portraits for Samuel Lover

View all known portraits for Madame Vestris (Lucia Elizabeth Vestris (née Bartolozzi, later Mathews))