Portrait of Mary Palmer
A portrait of the favourite niece of Sir Joshua Reynolds.
Portrait of Mary Palmer
Mary took on the role of housekeeper and companion to the artist and presided as host at Reynolds’s famous ‘Literary Club’, entertaining the likes of Dr. Johnson, Garrick, Sheridan and Goldsmith.
Mary was tutored by Sir Joshua and became quite able in portraiture. This version, which may well have been painted by herself, also seems to exhibit the hand of the master, especially around the face.
On his death in 1792 Mary inherited the majority of Reynolds’s estate and with her new found wealth, came under the influence of a dissolute Irish peer, the Marquis of Thomond. They married in 1796 and the Marquis proceeded to squander the inheritance in only a few years.
Mary was tutored by Sir Joshua and became quite able in portraiture. This version, which may well have been painted by herself, also seems to exhibit the hand of the master, especially around the face.
On his death in 1792 Mary inherited the majority of Reynolds’s estate and with her new found wealth, came under the influence of a dissolute Irish peer, the Marquis of Thomond. They married in 1796 and the Marquis proceeded to squander the inheritance in only a few years.
This object is located in the Drawing Room
It is categorised as Painting
This page was last updated on 10 April 2007