Portrait of a Lady
This very fine portrait was once thought to be by William Hogarth, one of the most original English artists, famous for his lively, moralising genre scenes. Although this example has a frankness and psychological intensity, characteristic of a portrait by Hogarth, its style is not typical of his work. The sketchiness and loose brushwork of certain areas suggest that this is an unfinished portrait. Portrait busts such as this one were very popular in Hogarth's time. Imitating the three-dimensional qualities of a sculpture, these busts were more affordable than a full-length portrait.
