Paintings Collection

Browse Collection

1567 of 1571

Click to hide image

Johan Zoffany (1733 - 1810)

Mary Thomas, the Artist's second Wife

A1111; oil on canvas; 75 x 61.5 cm

Prov: by descent from the sitter to Miss Claudine Roberts

Purchased with the assistance of Museums & Galleries Commission/Victoria & Albert Museum Purchase Grant Fund, The Art Fund and the Friends of the Ashmolean, 1979; WA1979.81

Manners and Williamson 1920, p. 205; Webster 1977, no. 96

Mary Thomas (c.1755 - 1832) followed Zoffany to Florence in 1772. She bore him a son and the couple were married soon afterwards. In spite of her humble origins, she captivated Anglo-Italian society and became a great favourite with people of all ranks. This portrait was probably painted in England in c.1781-2.

Information derived from the The Ashmolean Museum index.php/complete Illustrated Catalogue of Paintings.