Thomas Bardwell (1704 - 1767) - Portrait Of A Lady In A Yellow Silk Dress

A three-quarter length portrait of a seated woman wearing a yellow silk gown trimmed with lace, leaning on a marble-topped table near a doorway overlooking a vast landscape. The elegant model shines in the fashionable, brightly colored silk gown of the period. Her loose yellow silk gown is trimmed with lace, and her costume features a deep, ample neckline that reveals her décolletage. She holds a book in one hand and looks away from the viewer with a most sensitive expression, as if lost in thought. The 18th century is often considered the period when the novel truly established itself as a major literary genre. Authors such as Daniel Defoe, Samuel Richardson, Henry Feilding, and Laurence Sterne were instrumental in the novel's evolution, experimenting with new narrative techniques and exploring varied themes. A revolution in reading took place: intensive and repeated reading of a limited number of books gave way to more intensive reading habits, with a large number of books devoured in one sitting. Thomas Bardwell (1704-1767) was a painter and writer. He began his career as a decorative panel painter. Around 1738, his brother Robert Bardwell took over the family decorative painting business, based in Bungay, Suffolk; Bardwell then produced conversation pieces and portraits. In the 1740s and 1750s, Bardwell visited London and painted several portraits. In 1752 and 1753, he traveled through Yorkshire to Scotland, where he completed numerous commissions. From 1759, Bardwell settled in Norwich, where he established a thriving business. This magnificent painting is in excellent condition and is ready to hang in a high-quality gilt frame. High-resolution images on request. International delivery available. Canvas: 127 m x 102 cm. Framed: 48" x 58" / 148 cm x 122 cm.