Miss Frances Beresford c. 1784 - 1785

John Hoppner made this portrait of Miss Frances Beresford using graphite and colored chalks on paper. Hoppner lived and worked in England during a time of rigid social hierarchy, and his success as a portraitist was due to his ability to capture the likenesses of the British elite. Portraits like this one served not just as personal mementos, but as symbols of status, gender, and class. Frances' posture and refined attire communicate wealth and social standing. Yet her gaze seems hesitant, betraying a certain vulnerability, perhaps hinting at the complex position of women in this era. While portraits of women at this time often conformed to traditional ideals of beauty and domesticity, this image offers a glimpse beyond the surface of societal expectations, reflecting the nuanced experience of women navigating a world defined by patriarchal norms.