This early 19th-century English school portrait depicts a demure young lady wearing a white dress with puffy gigot sleeves and holding a guitar.

During the late 18th century and early 19th century, guitars rose to popularity among young ladies, many of whom were painted with the instrument. For instance, Sir William Beechey’s (1753-1839) work from 1819 depicts the ‘The Misses Plowden’ at a music recital.

And Julie Volpelière’s (1780-1842) exquisite piece from circa 1813, depicts a lady in a red dress.

Guitars were deemed suitable for women as females could retain their elegance and grace while playing them. It was a preference compared to what many deemed as ‘male instruments’ (a term covering the majority of the orchestra). The priority for a woman was to maintain her decorum.

Here, the young lady is fretting a six-string ‘romantic’ guitar, which is held over her shoulder with a decorative blue strap.

An inscription on the reverse refers to her as ‘Great Aunt Matilda’ and mentions ‘Stephen F Shairp’.

Medium: Gouache on paper
Overall size: 11½” x 13½” / 29cm x 34cm
Year of creation: c. 1830
Labels & Inscriptions: Inscribed on reverse.
Provenance: Private collection, Denmark.
Condition: Assessed and approved by our conservator. Paper is a little undulant but it doesn’t distract the eye. Frame with some minor age-related wear.
Our reference: BRV1790