Henrietta Catherine Cholmley and Son

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Henrietta Catherine Cholmley and Son

Artist Sir Joshua Reynolds English | British, 1723-1792

Date1761

DimensionsH: 49 1/2 in. (125.7 cm); W: 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm)

MediumOil on canvas

ClassificationPaintings

Credit LineGift of Mrs. George M. Jones, Jr.

Object number

2011.7

Not on View

Collections

Paintings

Published ReferencesGraves, A. and W.V. Cronin, A History of the Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A., London, 1899, I, p. 170.

Armstrong, Sir W., Sir Joshua Reynolds, London, 1900, p. 199.

Waterhouse, E.K., Reynolds, London, 1941, p. 49.

Exhibition HistoryLondon, Royal Academy, 1896, no. 7.Label TextMrs. Mary Cholmondeley (pronounced in the British style as “Chumley”), maiden name Woffington, was painted by Joshua Reynolds a total of three times. This portrait, in which the 30-year-old woman is joined by her young son, was the first. Mary Woffington married the Reverend Robert Cholmondeley in 1746. She was born into a humble Irish family and was the sister of Peg Woffington, a famous actress of the day, whose parties Reynolds is known to have enjoyed. The painting has recently undergone extensive conservation. Reynolds’ painting technique often led to heavy crackling and alteration of the color of the paint over time.