Paulina 1806

Thomas Lawrence painted this portrait of Paulina at an unknown date, using oil on canvas. Lawrence was a leading portrait painter in England during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and this work exemplifies the conventions of the time. The image creates meaning through visual codes typical of portraiture during the Romantic era. Note Paulina’s elegant pose and the vivid colors of the landscape behind her, suggestive of a woman of refinement and sophistication. Lawrence was president of the Royal Academy, and his portraits helped to establish the aesthetic preferences of the British upper classes. Understanding this painting requires some research into the history of British art institutions and the social function of portraiture. It is through this kind of art historical investigation that we can begin to understand how art reflects and reinforces social hierarchies.