Seated Woman n.d.

John Hoppner created this sketch of a seated woman, rendered in graphite, sometime between 1758 and 1810. The figure’s bare feet and simple garment hearken back to antiquity, evoking a sense of timelessness. Notice her pensive pose, head resting on her hand, gazing into the distance. This melancholic attitude, known since antiquity, suggests profound thought and introspection. We see it echo through the ages, from ancient depictions of philosophers to Renaissance portrayals of the Virgin Mary in mourning, as the Pietà. The globe by her side symbolizes worldly knowledge, and her bare feet, a return to nature and simplicity, a theme revisited during the Enlightenment. Like figures in Pompeiian frescoes, unearthed in the 18th century, she embodies a blend of classical ideals and modern sentiment. Such motifs persist, their emotional resonance carried through generations, reminding us of the enduring human quest for understanding and connection with the past.