Girl in a Tartan Dress

Artist Artist Unknown

Datec. 1840

Mediumoil on canvas

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 76.8 cm, Width: 60.7 cm
Frame: Height: 92.2 cm, Width: 77 cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1990.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG009580

Keywords

About MeMore than 150 years ago, this young Aberdeen girl was buttoned into her best dress to sit for her portrait. Tartan dresses were popular during the 1840's and it is not unusual to find them in girl's portraits of the time.
The artist is not known, he was probably what is called an itinerant painter, that means he would have travelled from place to place looking for custom probably by advertising his skills in the local press.

The artist probably had little if any training - look at the flatness of the head and the rather wooden left hand holding the book open. Nonetheless he has depicted the grave young face and the prized dress most sympathetically. The sitter in her Regency chair is placed against the expanse of the cool grey wall with practised judgement.

The sitter has been identified as one of the three Taylor sisters: Jane born in 1829; Margaret born 1830 and Elizabeth born 1833. As the girl in the portrait appears to be no more than 12 years old it is most likely to be Elizabeth, the youngest Taylor girl, suggesting a date of about 1845. Their brother, Alexander H. Taylor [born 1831] was a ship master and Captain of Aberdeen built Tea Clippers. The family lived in Ferryhill and later in Crown Street, both pleasant new residential areas near the city centre.

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This poor lass looks so bored. What do you think?