Portrait Study of Three Women

late 18th - early 19th century

A portrait study of three women by Maria Cosway (English, born in Italy, 1759-1838). The sketch consists of three women’s heads, two look at the viewer while one looks at the other two. The detail of the study focuses on the women’s eyes, the rest fades into a lesser defined drawing style where the women’s bodies and hands are only very lightly drawn. The figure on the far right bears a resemblance to the artist herself and could be a self portrait.

ink on paper

watercolor

13.75" x 17.25" (framed)

Gift of Mrs. Gwendolen E. Rives.

PSNC.5444