Portrait of a Lady

Portrait of a Lady by Hoppner at Sudley House in Liverpool exemplifies his prolific female portrait practice. Hoppner was one of the most sought-after portraitists of the late Georgian period, rivaling Thomas Lawrence for fashionable commissions. Hoppner's oil handling favored warm flesh tones over silvery grey half-shadows, producing an immediate vivacity that reflected his admiration for Reynolds and Gainsborough. Portrait Painter to the Prince of Wales from 1793, prolific exhibitor at the Royal Academy.

The anonymous sitter is rendered with Hoppner's characteristic warm naturalism, the elegant pose and fluid brushwork creating an appealing portrait of refined femininity.