The Swing The Swing (1767/1768) by Jean-Honoré FragonardThe Wallace Collection
Throughout history, women have played a pivotal role in the arts. Their contributions as patrons, artists, and intellectuals have left an enduring legacy.
Madame de Pompadour
This painting of Madame de Pompadour reflects loyalty and femininity. As mistress and long-time close friend to Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour held great power and influence over the French court. She also played an important role as a patron of the arts.
Margaret, Countess of Blessington
This portrait depicts the beauty and grace of Irish-born Margaret, Countess of Blessington, a darling of 19th-century society. A talented writer and friend of Lord Byron, she became a leading figure in the arts. From her home in London, she hosted an important literary salon.
Mrs Mary Robinson (Perdita)
This portrait of Mary Robinson honours the gifted poet, writer and acclaimed actress. Mistress to the Prince of Wales, she was a flamboyant celebrity and pioneer in her time. Her ingenuity and talent saw her survive debtors’ prison through writing and selling poetry.
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine (1650/1659) by SassoferratoThe Wallace Collection
The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine
St Catherine of Alexandria is depicted in this painting by Sassoferrato. As a result of her Christian faith, she was martyred by the Roman Emperor Maxentius. A spiked wheel and sword lie at the saint’s feet and represent her courage and willingness to die for her beliefs.
An Unknown Lady in an Italian Dress
This portrait's creator, venetian painter Rosalba Carriera, was one of the crucial figures in early eighteenth-century painting, both for the quality of her works and for her introduction of pastel painting and miniature painting in ivory into the mainstream of European art.
Marie Leszcynska, Queen of France
Daughter of the dethroned King of Poland, Marie Leszczynska married Louis XV in 1725. Left out of business, little considered by the Court, the queen devoted herself to her convent, which she founded in the city of Versailles for the education of poor young girls.
The Lace Maker
Caspar Netscher’s Lace Maker is absorbed in the intricacies of seventeenth-century Dutch lace making. It is a very striking painting. Its bold use of light and colour project the viewer into the room with her. She is shown in solitude but as a master of her craft.
The Sleep of Venus (le sommeil de Venus) (19th Century) by Marie Francoise-Constance MayerThe Wallace Collection
The Sleep of Venus (Le sommeil de Vénus)
Student and mistress of Pierre-Paul Prud’hon, many of Constance Mayer's works were orignally credited to Prud’hon. Mayer is now known as one of the most crucial female painters during the French revolution famous for her soft brushwork and depiction of sentimental subjects.
Marguerite de France as Minerva
The plaque depicts Marguerite de France (1523–1574), daughter of François I, as Minerva, the goddess of war and wisdom in Classical mythology. Marguerite was known for her erudition and for her encouragement of contemporary French writers.
Félicie de Fauveau
French sculptor and designer of decorative art objects, Félicie de Fauveau studied painting before choosing to move on to sculpture. She rejected marriage, cut her hair short around 1830 and often included masculine elements in her outfits. She possibly designed this frame.
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary Stuart's life was a tapestry of ambition and adversity. Ascending the Scottish throne as a baby her tumultuous life was marked by early widowhood, multiple marriages, and a clash of faiths eventually leading to her abdication, imprisonment, and tragic execution.
Madame Perregaux (1789) by Élisabeth-Louise Vigée Le BrunThe Wallace Collection
Madame Perregaux
This portrait of Madame Perregaux represents the pinnacle of Elisabeth-Louise Vigée Le Brun's artistry before her departure from France. Known for her flattering portrayals of women, she captures Madame Perregaux's elegance and sophistication with exquisite detail.
Madame de Pompadour (1759) by François BoucherThe Wallace Collection
Continue exploring women in the collection through the artistry of Vigée Le Brun's Madame Perregaux, the detail of the Lace-Maker, or Boucher's grand work for his influential patron, Madame de Pompadour.
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