Portrait of a Woman, Called Maria Taylor Byrd 1700 - 1725

Sir Godfrey Kneller's "Portrait of a Woman, Called Maria Taylor Byrd" is a 18th-century oil painting depicting a woman in an elegant gown. Kneller, a renowned portrait painter, captures Byrd in a three-quarter-length pose, emphasizing her refined presence. The painting's subtle background suggests a garden setting, further enhancing the sense of gentility. This work, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies Kneller's mastery of capturing individual character and the style of portraiture popular during the English Baroque period.