Portrait of a woman, called Penelope Margaret Stafford; three-quarter length, in a feigned oval. She is depicted against a stormy grey sky, her head turned sharply to the left, wearing a black and pink silk 'Vandyke' style gown trimmed with white lace. She wears a lace and pearl choker around her neck and her dark brown hair is piled high upon her head. A handwritten label on a piece of canvas is affixed to the back of the frame and reads: 'Penelope Margaret/dau of/John & Lucy Stafford/Obit Sept 15 1819/Wright of Derby Pinxt'. Made by Joseph Wright of Derby (1734 - 1797), c.1769. Oil on canvas in gilded frame. Glazed.

Related People

  • Joseph Wright of Derby (Artist)

    Display Date: British, 1734 - 1797

    Nationality: British

    Biography: Artist.

  • Penelope Margaret Stafford (Content)

    Display Date: died 1819

Portrait of Penelope Margaret Stafford

Date: c. 1769

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Object Type:Painting
Dimensions:Frame: 954 × 835 mm (37 9/16 × 32 7/8 in.) Support: 762 × 635 mm (30 × 25 in.)
Description:Wright was to paint some of his finest portraits during his stay in Liverpool. This portrait of Penelope Margaret Stafford is believed to be one of the <I>"Two Mifs Staffords L21"</I> (i.e. 10 gns each) listed in Wright's account book of sitters at Liverpool.
Inscriptions:A handwritten label on a piece of canvas is affixed to the back of the frame and reads: 'Penelope Margaret/dau of/John & Lucy Stafford/Obit Sept 15 1819/Wright of Derby Pinxt'.
Provenance:Listed in Wright's Account Book as 'Two Miss Staffords, £21.0.0' (with her sister, Lucy Stafford) under 'Sitters at Liverpool'; ...; Prince Hapsburg of Lotheringen, Norwich; ...; Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Kayser of Eaton Hall, Northampton, by whom sold on 21 May 1946 (buyer unknown); ...; with Philips Auctioneers in April 1982 (lot 112), whereupon purchased by Leger Galleries in 1983; sold to Derby Museums in 1983.
Viewing Status:Contact Us
Item Ref:1983-720
Browse Collection
Browse Collection