Portrait of a Lady in White

Portrait of a Lady in White from 1763 at the Smithsonian shows Reynolds at his most refined in female portraiture. The white costume creates a luminous compositional effect that demonstrates his sensitivity to the pictorial possibilities of dress. 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 white costume creates a striking luminous effect against the darker background. Reynolds's handling of the fabric and the sitter's features demonstrates his mature portrait technique.