About this artwork

This portrait of the artist's daughter, Isabella Macnee (later Mrs Wiseman), is an entrancing study of reflected light. The inspiration for the pose and the lighting effect may have been Reynolds' portrait of the actress Nelly O'Brien (Wallace Collection, London) which was shown in 1857 at the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition. The National Galleries of Scotland also has Macnee’s highly-worked preparatory oil sketch for this painting.

Updated 2021

  • artist:
    Sir Daniel Macnee (1806 - 1882) Scottish
  • title:
    A Lady in Grey
  • date created:
    Dated 1859
  • materials:
    Oil on canvas
  • measurements:
    128.00 x 102.50 cm; Framed: 158.00 x 132.70 x 11.00 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    Presented by Lady Macnee 1927
  • accession number:
    NG 1679
  • gallery:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
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Sir Daniel Macnee

Sir Daniel Macnee