George Romney paints Sarah Rodbard (1784), in a simple, long-sleeved white gown, complete with gold shoulder accents and a pale blue ribbon around the waist.
[National Museums Liverpool]
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Yay or Nay? Miss Sarah Rodbard
Last week we were almost close to a unanimous agreement: Yay on the outfit, Nay on the face. Poor Princess Luisa. Perhaps we've spent too much time with royalty, or maybe just Hapsburgs. Let's try something different and judge a title-less British lady on her ability to pull together an outfit.
George Romney paints Sarah Rodbard (1784), in a simple, long-sleeved white gown, complete with gold shoulder accents and a pale blue ribbon around the waist.
George Romney paints Sarah Rodbard (1784), in a simple, long-sleeved white gown, complete with gold shoulder accents and a pale blue ribbon around the waist.
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YAY! Lovely.
ReplyDeleteWhy weren't there more portraits of Georgiana?
I love these postings!
Yay! I like all white. It so often becomes about the small details and textures. And of course it's usually very elegant. (Except for Lady Skipwith. Ack!) I can almost hear it rustling.
ReplyDelete(Another yay for Romney. And the little dog, too :)
Totally Yay! It's so simple and pure, without being too young and cutsey (Sarah doesn't look to have had a cutsey face).
ReplyDeleteThe doggie is a little froo-froo for my tastes though!
Her pink face (if it's not the scanning/photo) makes me believe that she was a readhead (or maybe the painter just went for a pink face in contrast to the white dress). But what do I know...
ReplyDeleteThe dress is white, a bit boring, but Miss Rodbard bears it well. It's a YAY from me, anyway.
a definate YAY from me!
ReplyDeletea slighlty moody but certainly attractive face and her dress looks gorgeous...what a catch!
Her face looks masculine though her features soft and sensitive. She has a fantastic figure and the dress is beautiful so it's a YAY from me. :) How did they keep clothes like that in good clean condition in those days?!
ReplyDeleteYay!!!! Love it!!! :-D
ReplyDeleteYay for elegant simplicity! The classic white is charming, and I love the little peek at her shoes.
ReplyDeleteYay!! I love that dress.
ReplyDeleteYay! Such an elegant dress.
ReplyDeleteYay!
ReplyDeleteLove how it's natural, but really elegant at the same time. And of course, very fashionable. I'm sure both Marie Antoinette and the Duchess would have approved.
Yay! Very simple and chic. The virtuosity of the textile on the skirt is superb. It looks like a perfect silk. And I like the peekaboo shoes, also.
ReplyDeleteI'm not normally a fan of white, but the shimmeriness plus that pretty blue sash make it a yay!
ReplyDeleteDefinite Yay! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis painting is not of the low class artist. This has cost dear. How title-less was this lady? Methinks she may have been closer to lots of collateral than meets the common eye.
ReplyDeleteThe lady's presence is uncommonly pleasing, perhaps a little too much so? Would the Duchess condescend to meet her to assess the lady's features and quality of dress more openly......
http://myword1.blogspot.com/
You bring up a good point, although title-less, Sarah (and her family) had some money to spare. Having Romney paint your portrait was a symbol of wealth, and did well in attracting wealthy suitors (preferably with titles). I'm sure Mss Rodbard would be allowed in the same circles of Georgiana!
ReplyDeleteFortunate Sarah was an heiress, but of a...wait for it...Cit. Gasp! But, yes, she attracted a General, so mission accomplished!
ReplyDelete(I just had to look her up in my Romney catalog. Primarily because I was wondering what kind of dog it is.)
Definate yay! What a lovely, elegant outfit, and perfect for her age and looks. It doesn't make her look like an old lady, but it doesn't make her look like a girly-girl either. Plus, I adore Romney's paintings...
ReplyDeleteYay for sure!
ReplyDeleteSimple, but elegant. I love her shoes!!!
ReplyDeleteWhite is the color of innocence and purity, yes? As a young woman, I think the portrait does a nice job of showing off her pretty face.. and the cute dog!
Love it. Absolutely love, and echo previous commenter's question, how did they keep dresses like that clean in those days?
ReplyDeleteSigh. I know dresses like that aren't practical now, but isn't it lovely that once people wore them?
And the little dog is the ultimate accessory, as Sarah obviously knows!
Yay. It's a classic combination.
ReplyDeleteI love it, this is like "classic beauty". It's a YAY for me! ^^
ReplyDeletehttp://tigerlilysbook.blogspot.com
Oh, YAY! Heck, I'd wear that in public any day! (Change the accessory pooch though...)LOVE the blue sash. Not too sure about the sprinkling of gold on the shoulder. If this was a "I am rich and pretty so come on give me an offer"-portrait that is a little obvious, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteYay! I want this dress for myself...
ReplyDeleteThe dog in the painting appears to be the favoured lap dog of the upper classes, nay, not just of upper classes, but of kings and Queens.
ReplyDeleteThe lady married a general, I see, she becomes more interesting,maybe the fascination of her social milieu.
http://myword1.blogspot.com
Simple elegance, YAY!
ReplyDelete