Portrait of George Anna, Duchess of Devon
Thomas Gainsborough
Thomas Gunthborough (1727-1788), Portrait of George Anna, Duchess of Devonshire, oil on canvas, 127 x 101.5 cm., circa 1785-1787. It was sold on 6 May 1876 in Christie's London for 10,100 GF. Chatsworth's Devonshire Collection.
In May 1876, a large crowd poured into Christie's, and according to the Times, "Everyone rushed to see thomas Gainsborough's beautiful duchess... Everyone was captivated by her beauty." What caused such agitation was Thomas Gainsborough's ingenious portrait of Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire. The seductive Duchess holds a pink rose with buds waiting to be released with her index finger and thumb, and her eyes are seductive, showing her openness to sex.
The auction scene was also unprecedented, described by the Times as a "fierce battle" and "the most exciting bidding ever", when the auction finally closed the hammer, "on the table ... And the audience all over the ground clapped and cheered. The painting ended up selling for 10,100 kennys, setting a new record for art auctions at the time.
From: Christie's
An outstanding portrait not only presents the appearance of the person, but also can peek into its soul. This work is one of the 12 top masterpieces ever made by Christie's.