Jan 25, 2025
Lady Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kent
Artist: Paul Van Somer (Netherlandish, c. 1577-1621)
Date: c. 1619
Medium: Oil paint on wood
collection: TATE Britain, United Kingdom
Description
The daughter and co-heiress of the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury, Lady Elizabeth Talbot (1581-1651) married Henry Grey, Lord Ruthin (died 1639) in 1601; he succeeded his father as 8th Earl of Kent in September 1623.
Her extremely low decolletage is a fashion paralleled in other Jacobean female portraits, including those of Queen Anne herself. Such exposure, even for ladies of mature years, was evidently considered entirely acceptable, although presumably confined to an elite court circle only.
#portrait#woman#standing#three quarter length#black dress#lady elizabeth grey#countess of kent#english nobility#oil painting#artwork#fine art#netherlandish painter#english culture#paul van somer#european art#tate britain#17th century painting#jacobean female#low decolletage#leace#lace collar#red curtains
