John Singer Sargent, 'The Honourable Victoria Stanley', 1899
About the work
Overview
This full-length portrait of Victoria Stanley (1892–1927) was commissioned by her parents, Edward George Villers Stanley, the 17th Earl of Derby and his wife, Lady Alice Maud Olivia Montagu. It was painted at the height of John Singer Sargent’s fame as a society portraitist and was widely praised when it was exhibited at the New Gallery, London in 1900.
Victoria is shown aged six or seven and the setting can be identified as Sargent’s studio from the luxurious Aubusson carpet which features in many of his portraits. The grand but simple composition follows the conventions of adult portraiture but moderated for a child subject. She stands confidently and directly meets the viewer’s gaze. Although she is not dressed for horse riding, her costume references the country pursuit of hunting through her striking red coat and the hunting crop held in her hands. Her outfit is completed by a crisp white dress, polished black shoes and an extravagant bonnet decorated with bow and feathers.
Key facts
Details
- Full title
- The Honourable Victoria Stanley
- Artist
- John Singer Sargent
- Artist dates
- 1856 - 1925
- Date made
- 1899
- Medium and support
- Oil on canvas
- Dimensions
- 196.8 × 105.4 cm
- Acquisition credit
- On loan from a private collection
- Inventory number
- L1386
- Location
- Room 11
- Image copyright
- On loan from a private collection, © Private collection
- Collection
- Main Collection
About this record
If you know more about this work or have spotted an error, please contact us. Please note that exhibition histories are listed from 2009 onwards. Bibliographies may not be complete; more comprehensive information is available in the National Gallery Library.
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