Portret van Mary Lawrence met een leeuw in een landschap 1772

Richard Earlom created this mezzotint portrait of Mary Lawrence with a lion in a landscape during the late 18th century. The image draws on classical and romantic themes, reflecting the cultural fascination with the exotic and the sublime during this period. Here we see a woman, Mary Lawrence, in a loosely draped classical gown reclining in a forest. Next to her is a large but docile looking lion. In terms of social history, it evokes the popular fascination with aristocratic portraiture, which often served to legitimize the sitter's status and power through symbolic associations with strength, beauty, and moral virtue. The inclusion of the lion acts as a testament to the sitter's bravery and ability to tame wild animals, reflecting contemporary attitudes towards women and nature. To understand this artwork further, it's important to research the conventions of 18th-century British portraiture and their connections to social class and gender roles.