Lot 1312 Dα

Bei unserem Portrait handelt es sich aller Wahrscheinlichkeit nach um das lange Zeit verschollen gedachte Bildnis der Miss Lucy Lowndes, Tochter des wohlhabenden Londoner Kaufmanns Thomas Lowndes.
In Beecheys Geschäftsbuch, welches in William Roberts 1907 publiziertem Werk zum Maler erfasst wurde, ist nachzulesen, dass er am 9. August 1824 von Thomas Lowndes 63 Pfund für ein Portrait seiner Tochter erhielt. In "The Connoisseur - An Illustrated Magazine for Collectors" findet sich 1916 eine Beschreibung des Portraits, welches unser Gemälde sehr treffend wiederspiegelt: "The face of the sitter appears to have been carefully drawn on the canvas before the painter commenced work with his brushes, a practice introduced by Lawrence and quite opposed to that of Reynolds and his contemporaries, who began by sketching in their subjects in pigment. The portrait of Miss Lowndes exemplifies both the advantages and drawbacks of the later style. The drawing of the features is more correct, and the colour, perhaps, more pure, but these gains have been won by a corresponding loss in tonal values, and in the richness and impasto of the colour. The latter is colder than that of Beechey's earlier period, blue and lilac being the predominant tints. The lady is dressed in a white gown, partially red with a lilac cloak, the lining of which is blue. The last-named colour is repelled in various ribbons and the lace edged cap. The picture is an adequate and typical example of Beechey's later style, the modelling of the face and the flesh-tones being rendered with great care."