Mary Lady Isham (d.1878), Wife of Sir Justinian Isham, 8th Bt

Mary Lady Isham, wife of Sir Justinian Isham, 8th Baronet, appears in this 1825 portrait at Lamport Hall, forming a pendant to her husband"s portrait by the same artist. Companion portraits of husband and wife were standard commissions for country house collections, designed to hang together as a matching pair. Lady Isham"s portrait was probably commissioned at the same time as Sir Justinian"s, with both painted during the same period of sittings.

The companion portrait format requires Shee to coordinate the two paintings in scale, lighting, and general tone while giving each sitter individual characterization. Lady Isham"s portrait likely shows the softer palette and more sympathetic handling that Shee brought to female sitters. The lighting and background would be arranged to complement the husband"s portrait when the two are hung together.