Female - Two Studies of a Young Woman in eighteenth-century Costume1849 Accession number: 1906P677 Pencil on paper laid down onto card. Width: 232 mm Height: 375 mm InformationThe eighteenth-century costume worn in these two delightful drawings of a young woman is almost certainly that worn by the young mother in Brown's picture 'Infant's Repast' (Wightwick Manor, Wolverhampton) which he was finishing in January and February 1849. Both works depict a woman wearing an eighteenth-century gown in a striped fabric with a plunging neckline and three-quarter-length sleeves, and a rose in her hair. It is possible that Mrs Ashley, the model for 'Infant's Repast,' also sat for these drawings (see 1906P678 and 1906P679). In these studies the model sits awkwardly in an arm chair giving the impression of her as restless and uncomfortable. If the model was indeed Mrs Ashley, Brown's first description of her as someone who 'let the fire out 3 times & talked all day' seems rather apt for the fidgetly woman depicted in these drawings (Virginia Surtees, ed., 'The Diary of Ford Madox Brown,' p. 27).On the left side of the sheet there are traces of an erased pencil inscription which appears to be a name and address. Very few of the letters and numbers are still visible but the writing may have given details of the model.LM
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