Preparing for a Fancy Dress Ball

Preparing for a Fancy Dress Ball

The Missed Daughters is a portrait of two of Charles Watkin Williams- Wynn’s daughters, Charlotte and Mary. It shows Charlotte, the eldest, helping the seated Mary decorate her hair with a ribbon and a rose. It is currently on display at the York Museum of Art until the end of the month, when it will be moved to the National Gallery of Modern Art.

About Preparing for a Fancy Dress Ball in brief

Summary Preparing for a Fancy Dress BallPreparing for a Fancy Dress Ball, also known as The Misses Williams-Wynn, is a 173 by 150 cm oil on canvas by English artist William Etty. Etty was the first British artist to specialise in the nude, and the reaction of the lower classes to these paintings caused concern throughout the 19th century. The painting was completed for and exhibited at the 1835 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. It was generally well received, even by critics usually hostile to Etty and his work. It remained in the collection of Mary Williams-wynn’s descendants, and other than an 1849 retrospective exhibition, was not shown publicly for 160 years. A private collector purchased the piece from the Williams- wynn family in 1982, where it remained until its 2009 acquisition by the York Art Gallery. It now forms part of a major collection of Etty’s work there. It is currently on display at the York Museum of Art until the end of the month, when it will be moved to the National Gallery of Modern Art, London, for a permanent exhibition.

The exhibition will run until the 27th November. For more information, visit the museum’s website or go to: http://www.yorkmuseum.org.uk/art/paintings/preparing-for-a-fancy-dress-ball-also-known-as The Misses-Williams-Wyynn-The-Misses-William-Etty- Preparing-For-A-Fancy-Dress-Ball-Also-The Misses Wylyn-Wynen-1835-The Missed-Dressed-Daughter.html. The Missed Daughters is a portrait of two of Charles Watkin Williams- Wynn’s daughters, Charlotte and Mary, in lavish Italian-style costume. It shows Charlotte, the eldest, helping the seated Mary decorate her hair with a ribbon and a rose. The artist was almost exclusively known at the time for painting nudes, but he was commissioned in 1833 by Thomas Potts of Clapham Common to paint a portrait of his daughter Elizabeth. He was elected a full Royal Academician in 1828, ahead of John Constable. He became well respected for his ability to capture flesh tones accurately in painting and for his fascination with contrasts in skin tones.