1953.36 Sir William Beechey, The Misses Plowden


GENERAL DESCRIPTION  
Sir William Beechey was a fashionable portrait painter of English society whose large clientele included the family of King George III. His style was largely inspired by the portraits of fashionable British aristocrats produced during the late 18th century by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough, and George Romney.

1986.269 Giovanni Battista Cipriani, Nymph


GENERAL DESCRIPTION  
In 1750, Italian artist Giovanni Battista Cipriani traveled from Florence to Rome, where he came into contact with English artists on the Grand Tour, the customary trip around Italy that complemented a classical education for upper-class young men. He became friendly with architect William Chambers and sculptor Joseph Wilton, proponents of a Neoclassical style.

1940.6 Jean-Honoré Fragonard, The Family of the Satyr


GENERAL DESCRIPTION  
This etching by Jean-Honoré Fragonard belongs to a series of four prints called the Bacchanals or Satyrs’ Games. His series depicts satyrs and nymphs in the form of relief sculptures set against foliage, loosely inspired by sketches produced by the artist on his second trip to Italy in 1756–61.