Lady Mortimer’s Welsh Song 1825

Robert Smirke created “Lady Mortimer’s Welsh Song” using watercolor and graphite on paper. While seemingly traditional, these materials offer a window into the social and cultural context of its creation. Watercolor, often associated with amateur artistry and feminine accomplishment, held a complex position in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. It was considered a suitable pastime for women of leisure, yet its use in professional art was often downplayed. Smirke’s choice of watercolor for this historical scene, therefore, hints at underlying issues of gender, class, and artistic value. Graphite, too, was becoming increasingly accessible due to new mining techniques and manufacturing processes. Its inclusion in the drawing speaks to the changing landscape of material availability and artistic production during the Industrial Revolution. By examining the materials and techniques used in “Lady Mortimer’s Welsh Song,” we can gain a richer understanding of its social and cultural significance. It challenges us to consider the role of gender, class, and labor in shaping artistic expression.