1791 Hyacinthe Gabrielle Roland, Marchioness Wellesley by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun (Museum of Fine Arts — California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco)
Duaghter of actress
Hyacinthe Varis and the Irish emigrée in France, Chevalier Fagan, Hyacinthe was
live-in mistress of the Duke of Wellington's brother, Richard, from 1786 (John
Severn Architects of
Empire, University of Oklahoma Press 2007 ed., p.34).
According to his Wikipedia
article, they married in 1794. Her article in thepeerage is here.
After
years of Ladies wearing gorgeous dresses in regal poses, Vigée-Lebrun paints
this trashy-looking Marquise in a trashy pose.
Keywords: 1791, Vigée-Lebrun, Hyacinthe Wellesley, Marchioness Wellesley, Marquise,
British, long curly coiffure, head band, square neckline, chemise, three
quarter length sleeves, bodice, strap sleeves, full skirt