MASP

Mrs. Franck Rolleston refers to Jane Bagge, born in Lismore, County Waterford, in Ireland. That the work dates from the period prior to Stuart’s return to the United States seems to be supported by the fact that it was found on the London market in 1950. Although it has not been possible to determine much about the picture, its certain Irish nationality could be an indication that the portrait dates more precisely from Stuart’s Irish sojourn between 1787 and 1792, years in which he was very active. The portrait’s stylistic features as well as the sitter’s clothes show the probability that it dates from the period between 1785 and 1795. On comparing this portrait with those of Sarah Siddons and of her brother, John Philip Kemble, both renowned actors in the London of 1785, (National Portrait Gallery) and both paintings unequivocally from this decade, a series of similarities can be seen. The three portraits have identical measurements. The three-quarter angle at which the sitter is posed, the cut-off at the waist, the selection of lights on the face, and above all, the enormous collar on the satin dress, are almost identical features in the portraits of both Jane Bagge and Sarah Siddons. Further, the bouffant collar was surely in fashion in that decade, not having been depicted in any portrait prior to 1785 and disappearing after 1795, to be replaced by another, totally different model (McLanatahn 1986, pp. 49-56). Other than this, although the Masp portrait is in a poor state of conservation, it is interesting to note the sitter’s somewhat dreamy, absent features. This, as well as the extraordinarily light brush strokes and glazing, is characteristic of Stuart’s English phase (and partly of the English portraiture of the 80s). The interest derives from the fact that his later approach to portraiture was one of franker psychological characterization and a smoother, more finished execution. The picture of Mrs. Perez Morton, of 1802, the only exception to this rule, is clearly unfinished (Worcester Art Museum).

— Unknown authorship, 1998

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