Lady Sunderlin 1786

Joshua Reynolds made this portrait of Lady Sunderlin in oil paint on canvas. Although those are traditional materials for a painting, what is depicted speaks volumes about the society of the time. The billowing swathes of expensive silk that make up Lady Sunderlin’s dress speak of global trade. Raw materials transformed through skilled labour, the fabric would have been woven, dyed and embellished before being fashioned into a garment. Consider the labour involved in its production, from those cultivating silkworms to the seamstresses who brought it all together. The lace on her sleeves and bodice, probably from Brussels or Valenciennes, would have taken countless hours to create by hand. It is worth reflecting on these processes, and how the material qualities of Lady Sunderlin’s clothes give insights into the economic and social context that defined her life.