Mrs. Thomas Pechell (Charlotte Clavering, died 1841)

Hoppner's portrait of Mrs. Thomas Pechell from 1799 depicts Charlotte Clavering, the wife of Major Thomas Pechell, in the elegantly informal manner that characterized his female portraiture at the turn of the nineteenth century. Hoppner was the most fashionable portrait painter in London after Reynolds's death in 1792, competing directly with Lawrence for the patronage of the aristocracy and wealthy military families. His female portraits, influenced by Reynolds's grand manner, softened the formal requirements of commissioned portraiture with an informal ease of pose and a warm atmospheric treatment of dress and setting. The pair of Pechell portraits — husband and wife both from 1799 — represents the full range of Hoppner's practice.

Hoppner's portrait technique renders the sitter with warm, luminous flesh tones and a rich, harmonious palette. The costume is painted with fluid, confident brushwork that suggests luxury fabric, while the face is modeled with careful attention to the sitter's individual features. The warm, dark background enhances the figure's luminous presence.