A Pair Of 18th Century Portraits Of Mr And Mrs Roberts - By Thomas Hudson (1701-1779)

A beautiful and rich pair of portraits depicting Mr. and Mrs. Roberts by the famous 18th century English portraitist Thomas Hudson. Mr. Roberts is depicted at mid-length in a velvet jacket and waistcoat, and with his confident look, he is every inch the wealthy, self-confident 18th-century gentleman. With her pastel silk clothes with bows and ruffles (the height of rococo fashion) Ms. Roberts makes a very elegant companion. It’s a fashionable wedding! These portraits are decorative examples of Thomas Hudson's oil work and provide an enchanting snapshot of the middle classes of Middle Georgian England. Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) During the 1740s, Hudson became one of Britain's leading portrait painters. He trained in his youth under his stepfather, the theoretician and painter Jonathan Richardson, whose bold Baroque portraits he absorbed and developed. The first records of his work date from the late 1720s, when the artist began to divide his time between London and the West Country. Like many painters of the 17th and 18th centuries, he was often drawn to Bath to paint the rich models that this spa town attracted. His studio in London became a hive of activity from wealthy patrons and aspiring students. Among his pupils were Joshua Reynolds, Joseph Wright of Derby and John Hamilton Mortimer. Hudson joined other budding artists from the British School and regularly met the likes of Hogarth, Hayman, Ramsay and Rysbrack at Old Slaughter's Coffee House in St Martin's Lane. He collaborated with the painter Joseph van Aken, who painted the draperies of many of his finest works. This collaboration shows just how great the demand for the artist's brushes had become. Hudson's success as a portrait painter attracted many students eager to study with him. Among them were figures such as Joseph Wright of Derby (1734-97), who worked in Hudson's workshop from 1751 to 1753 and 1756 to 1757, and Joshua Reynolds (1723 to 1792), who worked for Hudson from 1740 to 1743. The latter's success, which did so much to transform 18th-century British portraiture, however, made the student a powerful rival. Reynolds' success was such that by the 1760s Hudson's style seemed out of fashion and he had difficulty finding new commissions. Hudson retired to his villa at Twickenham, where he died in 1770. These beautiful portraits are in an excellent state of preservation and are ready to hang and enjoy in their probably original 18th century hand-carved and gilded frames, which are in themselves a work of art. Higher resolution images on request. Worldwide shipping available. Each portrait: Canvas: 25" x 30" / 64cm x 76.5cm. Frame: 37.5" x 32" / 75cm x 81.5cm.