Mrs. Mary Robinson ('Perdita') - Thomas Gainsborough

A portrait of the actress Mary Robinson by Thomas Gainsborough, capturing her in a woodland setting with his signature fluid brushwork.

Thomas Gainsborough painted this portrait of the actress and poet Mary Robinson in 1781. Robinson earned the nickname 'Perdita' after her performance in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale. At the time of this commission, she was a celebrated figure in London society, known for her beauty and her association with the Prince of Wales.

Gainsborough employs his characteristic fluid brushwork to capture the sitter. Robinson sits in a woodland setting, a common device in his portraiture to merge the subject with the natural world. She wears a light, diaphanous gown, which contrasts with the darker, atmospheric foliage behind her. A small dog rests beside her, adding a sense of domesticity to the composition. The artist uses a palette of soft whites, creams, and muted greens, applied with a lightness that suggests movement and airiness.

The portrait demonstrates Gainsborough's ability to balance formal requirements with a more relaxed, painterly approach. He avoids the rigid poses often found in eighteenth-century portraiture, opting instead for a seated position that feels natural. The light catches the texture of her dress and the sheen of her hair, while the background remains somewhat indistinct, drawing the eye back to the sitter. This work remains a fine example of the artist's mature style, where the focus is as much on the application of paint as it is on the likeness of the subject. It is currently held in the Wallace Collection in London.