Lady of the Lake 1785 - 1834

Richard Westall created this watercolor titled, *Lady of the Lake*. Westall, working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, navigated a society gripped by rapid change and the rise of Romanticism. He lived through the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era which sparked new ideas about individual liberty. Here, a woman lies prostrate on the ground, a rosary clutched in her hand. The sepia tones create a somber atmosphere, and the woman’s lifeless pose evokes a sense of tragedy. Is she in mourning? Or is she dead? Westall leaves these questions unanswered. Women in the 18th century were often portrayed as allegories of virtue or subjects of sentimental narratives. This piece is no different. Westall’s *Lady of the Lake* invites you to consider the emotional and spiritual lives of women. The image conveys themes of loss, devotion, and the precariousness of life during a period of political and social upheaval.