Why it matters
A woman in a white dress and a hat with ostrich feathers and blue ribbons turns slightly to the left, her powdered hair piled high. It is Gainsborough's only work in Russia.
Did you know?
- It dates from about 1775–1785, during his stay in Bath.
- She has been identified as Elizabeth, Duchess of Beaufort.
- It was bequeathed to the Hermitage in 1916 by Alexei Khitrovo.
Based on the Wikipedia article Woman in Blue (CC BY-SA 4.0).
