Sunday, November 1, 2009

Yay or Nay? Mrs. Newbery

Huzzah! Elijah Boardman was able to successfully represent the Colonies is a positive light. Sometimes simplicity with just the right colors is the best combination. Is that the case with this week's selection. I apologize for the teasing size which is due to the sitting being too cheap to pay for a larger size. Perhaps you may feel she cheapened out on her outfit as well?



George Romney paints the earthly Mrs. Newbery (1782-4) in her simple brown gown, complete with fabric buttons, pale green ribbons, and plenty of white muslin.

[National Museum Cardiff]

30 comments:

  1. Yay from me. I love the earth tones.

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  2. Yay. I think she pulls it off with a sweet grace. The green bow adding a pretty, rather than plain accent.

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  3. Yay. I love the colours, the dress, her face.

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  4. Yay! I like the palette and old George really captured that Certain Something. She's not only beautiful, but looks to have character.

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  5. I love it. Yay. She has an amused and knowing quality to her that makes her seem too clever to be caught in anything but the right frock. The brown with the green [slightly jade to my eyes] really feels fresh but not silly or flirty. The singular use of red on the seat back adds some surprise but doesn't steal focus. I think it is a great painting and only wish it was full length.

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  6. Yay from me! There's a beautiful harmony to all elements of this picture, and she does look like someone I'd want to know better.

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  7. I'm in it for a yay --- gives credit to "the colonies" to have such a demure but obviously determined woman.

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  8. I like it! A bit plainer than most from that time, but then that speaks to our more modern sensibility...I wonder what outfits we wear that will age so well

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  9. Yay! I love the colors and the entire outfit is very well put together.y

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  10. yay the details are ah-mazing!

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  11. Yay =) I love the green and white details - I think they really accentuate her eyes. She looks like an interesting woman, too!

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  12. Yay! Though simple, her outfit is very elegant and I love the green contrast.

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  13. Yay! She looks really pretty, no matter the discret dress.

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  14. successfully proving that less is sometimes more...yay!
    lucky old Mr Newbery, whoever he was!

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  15. Yay. The green ribbon brings elegance to an otherwise simple dress.

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  16. Yay! She looks sophisticated and well put together

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  17. Not too sure about the cap, but a decided Yay for the dress - that mint-green is so pretty!

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  18. Yay, definitely. I love the green ribbons with the bronzy fabric. Quite beautiful. Josephine

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  19. I like her outfit; I'd even wear it myself. I think she looks like a proper gentlewoman, and someone to be taken seriously without seeming remote or forbidding.

    I'm a huge fan of Romney's portraits. He always brought out the sweetness in his sitters.

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  20. Yay, beautiful and she has a refined come hither expression.

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  21. yay. Really nice! It's a pity the whole gown hasn't been painted, though. I would have liked to see the skirt as well.

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  23. Another yay! I quite like the brown, and the green accents really make the outfit elegant. My, she was a beautiful lady.

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  24. Love the green, the brown not so much. But overall, it's a lovely painting and it works, so yay.

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