Lovely portrait painted by the famous English portrait artist Allan Ramsay (1713-1784) of his second wife.
Margaret was his student when they fell in love and eloped in 1752. Her father, Sir Alexander Lindsay of Evelick, never forgave her for marrying below her station. The Ramsay’s are reported to have had a long and happy marriage which only ended upon her death in 1782.
This portrait is a bit unusual in that it wasn’t painted straight on like so many portraits from this era. In spite of highly detailed clothing and an oriental vase filled with flowers, it is the face of his beloved wife which draws one’s attention in this beautiful portrait. This painting is also exception for all of the detail Ramsay included in his wife’s lace shawl and sleeves.