17th-Century Painting of Two Ladies Acquired by Compton Verney
The Compton Verney Art Gallery in Warwickshire, England, has added a 17th-century artwork titled "Allegorical Painting of Two Ladies," dating back to around 1650. The piece depicts a black woman and a white woman in ornate dresses, adorned with fashion patches that concealed imperfections, a trend of the era. This painting surfaced during discussions in the English Parliament regarding women's use of cosmetics. An intriguing inscription on the artwork hints at societal issues of the time. Previously owned by Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon, the painting sold for £220,000 at auction in June 2021, with a recent purchase price of £300,000 aided by grants.
Key facts
- The painting is by an unknown artist, titled Allegorical Painting of Two Ladies, dated c. 1650.
- It depicts a black and a white woman as mirror reflections, both wearing lavish dresses and pearl necklaces.
- Beauty patches in shapes like crescents, hearts, and stars are prominent features.
- The painting was created during a period when the English Parliament debated an act against women's use of makeup and dress.
- Oliver Cromwell's Puritan government argued beauty patches could conceal scars from sexually transmitted diseases.
- The painting was in the collection of Lloyd Tyrell-Kenyon, 6th Baron Kenyon (1947–2019), in Shropshire, UK.
- It was auctioned by Trevanion Fine Art and Antiques in June 2021 for £220,000.
- The UK government barred its export, and Compton Verney Art Gallery acquired it in 2023 for £300,000 with grants from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the V&A Museum.
Entities
Artists
- English School
Institutions
- Compton Verney Art Gallery
- Trevanion Fine Art and Antiques
- National Heritage Memorial Fund
- V&A Museum
- Wellcome Library
Locations
- Warwickshire
- UK
- London
- Shropshire
- France