Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan c. 1796 - 1843

This portrait, "Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan", was painted by English artist John Hoppner sometime between 1796 and 1843. The painting shows Mrs. Sheridan, holding a small child on her back, against a picturesque outdoor backdrop. The setting and the figures are softened by Hoppner’s characteristically loose brushwork, emphasizing the intimacy of the scene. This type of work is representative of Hoppner's oeuvre, and it reflects the popular taste for romantic portraiture prevalent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.