Anne Seymour Damer 1773

Joshua Reynolds painted this oil on canvas portrait of Anne Seymour Damer, a prominent sculptor, during the late 18th century. Reynolds was known for his mastery of oil paint, building up layers to create luminosity and depth, evident in the sitter's skin tones and the folds of the drapery. The texture is smooth, reflecting the prevailing taste for polished surfaces in fine art. Reynolds prepared the canvas with layers of ground, and applied the paint with brushes in varying sizes. The portrait's significance lies in its depiction of a woman who defied social expectations by pursuing a career in sculpture. Damer's own artistic practice would have involved very different processes and materials, like clay or marble, and techniques such as carving and modeling. By portraying her in the realm of painting, Reynolds elevates her status while subtly acknowledging the gendered division of artistic labor. Considering the materials, the making, and social context allows us to appreciate the dialogue between painting and sculpture, between artist and sitter, and between tradition and innovation.