Mary Robinson (née Darby)

Inscriptionback to top

Inscribed on the back with dealer's number in pencil: 3467M/me/—.

This portraitback to top

Dance's drawing, unusually unsigned and undated but noted in Diary of Joseph Farington, 15 December 1793, represents her some ten years after her fatal dash to Dover in pursuit of Colonel Tarleton ending in miscarriage and partial paralysis for life. Its sharp profile and awkward pose is in poignant contrast to the relaxed beauty of Reynolds's 1784 portrait in the Wallace Collection.

Physical descriptionback to top

Half-length seated to left in high-waisted dress with frilled collar and fichu, hair bound with ribbon and front bow.

Provenanceback to top

Dance family possession until sold by the Rev George Dance, the artist's grandson, Christie's, 1 July 1898 (157) among a large collection of Dance portrait drawings, bought Leggatt and bought from him April 1900.

Exhibitionsback to top

'George Dance the elder 1695-1768: the younger 1741-1825', Geffrye Museum, 1972 (91).

Reproductionsback to top

Soft-ground etching by William Daniell among the additional plates to Dance's Collection of Portraits.


This extended catalogue entry is from the out-of-print National Portrait Gallery collection catalogue: Richard Walker, Regency Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, 1985, 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 George Dance

View all known portraits for Mary Robinson (née Darby)