Time/Date -
Wednesday 16 February - Sunday 15 April
The Ulster Museum holds a fine collection of British portraits from the 1700's and early 1800's including a number of sitters with strong local connections.
Having a portrait created grew from a desire to record and preserve the ‘true likeness’ of an individual. By the 1700's portraits had become a fashionable way of displaying the sitter’s wealth and social position and successful portrait painters enjoyed great celebrity and commanded high fees.
During this time fashionable society admired the art and architecture of ancient Rome and contemporary portraiture often introduced costumes and poses derived from classical antiquity.
There was also a fashion for travel to Italy on the ‘Grand Tour’ and Italian paintings and classical sculptures were collected and displayed with portraits, so enhancing the prestige and status of the sitter.
Pictured above is Theodosia Magill 1743 - 1817, afterwards Countess of Clanwilliam (1765). Click image to enlarge.
Further information on the portrait sitters (click to download)
Exhibition information
This exhibition is on display in Art 1 and is free to attend.
Useful links