Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan 1787 - 1796

This is Gainsborough Dupont’s rendering of Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan, completed in the late 18th century. Dupont, nephew and assistant to Thomas Gainsborough, situates his sitter in nature, a popular convention for portraits of women at this time. However, in its representation, the portrait transcends the mere aesthetic. Mrs. Sheridan, known for her beauty and accomplishments as a singer, embodies a complex intersection of gender, class, and artistic expression. Her pose and attire speak to the performative aspects of femininity in Georgian society. She is adorned with a flowing gown, yet she appears as an active participant within the pastoral landscape, and not simply a passive object of admiration. Portraits such as these offer a glimpse into the lives of women of the era, reflecting the constraints and opportunities afforded to them. They allow us to consider the varied negotiations of identity that took place within the social structures of 18th-century Britain.