Antique Original Oil on Canvas Painting Depicting a Female Sitter, 19th Century

A romantic and skilled depiction of the famous Welsh actress Sarah Siddons (1755-1831). Siddons was the best-known tragedienne of the 18th Century, and her most notable role was as Lady Macbeth. The contemporaneous critic William Hazlitt dubbed Siddons "tragedy personified". Her portrait was painted countless times by the great and good during the 18th/19th century.

Inscribed verso: ‘Copy of (“Portrait of Mrs Siddons“ Artist Unknown), In the South Kensington Museum, The portrait is attributed to Sir Thomas Lawrence’. It is also signed by the artist ‘S.A. Thomas’ and dated ‘1888’.

The South Kensington Museum is now known as the V&A, and luckily, the original is still in their collection; the only difference is that the attribution has now been changed from Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA FRS to William Hamilton RA. They have also dated the original portrait to c. 1784.

The Royal College of Art was based at the same site as the South Kensington Museum in 1888, so it is within reason that this copy was undertaken by a student at the school.

The painting is largely in good vintage order. There is some wear throughout commensurate with age, including some craquelure and some minor losses. There is one small patch repair to the canvas and some light touch-up restoration in a couple of small areas. Overall, we think the slightly worn feeling of the work adds to its romantic charm and is part of the reason we fell for this piece in the first place.

Approximate measurements: 41cm x 31cm x 2cm.

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