Margaret Gillies (1803-1887)
Portrait of Mary Wordsworth, 3/4 length, seated, 1839
painting
(oil)
255 x 214 mm
William Knight, in his 'Retrospects' of 1904, gives valuable information about this portrait. He writes 'When engaged in the work of examining and writing about the portraits of Wordsworth and his household, I called on Mrs Gertrude Lewis [the owner of the portrait], introduced to her by Miss Swanwick, to see a small portrait in oil of Mrs Wordsworth, said to be by Miss Gillies who painted the poet so often. This portrait, which is now in Dove Cottage, Grasmere, hung in Miss Gillies' studio at Hampstead for many years. She always spoke of it as that of 'old Mrs Wordsworth', and on the back of it is an inscription evidently put on by her when sending it to the Royal Academy: 'No. 1. Portrait of Mrs. Wordsworth.' Mrs Lewis allowed me to have this miniature etched for one of my volumes of Wordsworth, and afterwards gave the original for preservation in the poet's cottage at Grasmere. A question arose as to the identity of the portrait, but this need not now be discussed, and it is only mentioned to explain allusions in Miss Swanwick's letter. '23 Cumberland Terrace: December 12, 1893. 'Mrs Lewis is quite willing that her portrait of Mrs Wordsworth should be etched for the forthcoming edition of the poet's works; her doubt is whether the lady whom it represents is the poet's wife. I was so fearful lest I should not accurately represent her views that I requested her to write to you herself, which she promised to do. (Mrs Lewis at once wrote on the subject.) 'The countenance of Mrs Wordsworth as portrayed by Miss Gillies is so interesting that it may well represent in advanced life the charming creature to whom the poet addressed his lines, "She was a phantom of delight,"&c. I hope that you may feel satisfied that such is the case. 'Though in bygone years I have seen Wordsworth, I was never introduced to him; and my friends, who had the privilege of knowing him, have now passed away. I fear, therefore, that I cannot add anything by way of reminiscence.' (information given by Tony Reavell, 22 November 2009)
Inscriptions:
printed label (reverse of panel): PREPARED PANEL / WINSOR & NEWTON, / ARTISTS' COLOURMEN / To Her Majesty / AND TO HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS PRINCE ALBERT, / 38, Rathbone Place, LONDON.
Provenance:
Gift of Gertrude Lewis, pre 1904
Exhibited:
Dorothy Wordsworth, Liverpool Victoria Art Gallery and Museum, 2014-5, Cat. number:
Literature:
de Selincourt, Ernest, 1911, catalogue, Middleton (p8 DC B I1)
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