Mrs Anne Brudenell

Mrs. Anne Brudenell from 1760 at the Hunterian Museum shows Reynolds painting an aristocratic woman in his developing mature style. His female portraits of this period establish the conventions he would refine throughout his career. Reynolds built his portraits using multiple glazed layers over a warm imprimatura, blending Rembrandt's tonal depth with Van Dyck's aristocratic elegance—though his experimental use of bitumen and carmine often caused irreversible darkening.

The portrait presents the sitter with elegant bearing. Reynolds's handling creates an image of aristocratic feminine beauty.