"The Bride (Lady Forbes)" by Elizabeth Adela Forbes, ARWS (1859-1912)

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The Bride (Lady Forbes

Elizabeth Adela Forbes (1859-1912)

c.1889–1912

Oil on canvas

H 112.5 x W 86.5 cm

Collection: Penlee House Gallery and Museum

Accession no: PEZPH: 1989.63

Purchased, 1973

In 1902, Stanhope Forbes's elder brother William married a Frenchwoman, Marie Louise Tronche of Souillac, who became Lady Forbes when he was knighted in 1915. It seems likely that this was painted around the time of the marriage. [Commentary continues below.]

Image downloaded, and caption and commentary added, by Jacqueline Banerjee. [Click on the image to enlarge it.]

Kindly made available on the Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives licence (CC BY-ND), via Art UK.

The bridal gown is a tour de force, with its fine silken texture, its copiously flounced sleeves, and its delicate pearly shades. The light pink floral patterning across the shoulder follows through into the end of the train, which the bride lifts gently in one hand, as if to keep it in place or show it off to best advantage. Her other hand rests on much more of this luxurious gown, which cascades down behind her on the sofa, to the right. She wears rings and a bracelet, but nothing round her neck that might detract from the simplicity of the low neckline. The bride herself, with her dark hair, high colour and wide smile, looks truly happy.

Bibliography

Oil Painting. Penlee House. Web. 4 March 2021.

Created 3 March 2021