31” W x 36” H
Mrs. Hester Rawstorn(e) / Rawstom (ATTRIBUTED)
This early Georgian oil on canvas portrait, dating between 1720 and 1740, captures a young woman identified on the reverse inscription as “Mrs. Hester Rawstorn[e] / Rawstom, 6th Daughter of …”.
She is depicted in a deep red gown with a white chemise sleeve spilling through, a fashionable style of the early Georgian period. Her square neckline, softly arranged hair, and shadowed background highlight the grace and presence typical of English portraiture of this era.
The Rawstorn(e) family were established gentry in Essex (Colchester, Lexden) and Lancashire (Penwortham Hall), appearing in heraldic visitations and wills of the period. The unusual notation of “6th daughter” is consistent with gentry practice for genealogical records, and portraits of this type often commemorated daughters as part of family series or marriage arrangements.
Unlike most anonymous Georgian portraits, this sitter comes to us with both a name and a story. Her inscription anchors the painting to a real historical family, making this not only a decorative work of art but also a tangible piece of English heritage.
Condition:
The painting is on its original 18th-century canvas, stretched on a nailed wooden stretcher. There are visible patches and mends to the reverse where tears were repaired, as well as areas of water staining. Craquelure is present throughout the surface with some paint loss at the lower portion. The frame is a later giltwood replacement, likely 19th or early 20th century. The inscription on the reverse is in an early hand and remains legible. Overall stable and display-ready with condition consistent with age and history.
