Sir William Orpen

Portrait of Miss Harmsworth in a Landscape

Irish artist William Orpen spent much of his professional life in London as one of the most successful portrait painters of the century. He was knighted for his service as England's Official War Artist during World War I. Orpen evolved an eclectic style synthesizing the best of the nineteenth century realist tradition, with influences from Dutch and Spanish Old Masters as well as James MacNeill Whistler. This painting of the young daughter of a prominent British industrialist, one of several child portraits Orpen completed early in the century, conveys Miss Harmsworth's earnest expression and personality. The broad virtuoso rendering of her red velvet coat and hat, the treatment of her shimmering white satin and lace dress, and her location against a dark, billlowing cloudscape recall the technique of seventeenth centruy Spanish painter Velasquez.