Full-length oil portrait of Mrs John Douglas (Frances Browne), sitting and reading a letter. Frances leans her right elbow on the pedestal of a sculpted classic vase to the left. Her finger supports her head. She is reading an open letter, the writing suggests but is not legible, which she is holding in her left hand. Her right leg is crossed over her left hand. She is wearing a low-cut silk dress with a red checked brooch and a voluminous overskirt on which she is resting her elbow. It falls to the right and reveals her underskirt and slippers. Strings of pearls decorate her hair, cleavage and sleeves. A large tree appears to the left. In the distance clouds and trees appear on the right. In front of the pedestal a wild convolvulus plant grows.
Gainsborough's delightful brushwork and subtle use of colour was recently unveiled when this painting was cleaned. The white is visible again in the skin, the layered fabrics, the paper and the pearls.
Thomas Gainsborough was an English artist mainly known for his portraits and landscapes. Together with Sir Joshua Reynolds, Gainsborough was one of the most important and successful artists of the eighteenth century.
                                
Discover more Old Masters in the following collections:
 
                         The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn
The endangered swan, Jan Asselijn The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael
The mill at Wijk bij Duurstede, Jacob Isaacksz. van Ruisdael Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon
Queen Elizabeth of Bourbon Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem
Flower arrangement, Jan Davidsz. de Heem A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen
A Amsterdam street scene - Adrianus Eversen The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius
The goldfinch, Carel Fabritius Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland
Vincent van Gogh. Flower beds in Holland Jacob Maris - Fishing boat
Jacob Maris - Fishing boat The School of Athens, Raphael
The School of Athens, Raphael Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh
Almond blossom painting by Vincent van Gogh The Mirror, Robert Reid
The Mirror, Robert Reid Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633
Portrait of a woman, anonymous - 1633 The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting
The Milkmaid - Vermeer painting Agapanthus, Claude Monet
Agapanthus, Claude Monet Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard
Vincent van Gogh. Olive orchard Cypresses
Cypresses The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet
The Artist’s Garden in Giverny, Claude Monet The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai
The great wave of Kanagawa, Hokusai Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd
Italian landscape with pine trees, Hendrik Voogd Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)
Bouquet of flowers on white background (seen at VT Wonen)