Menonday Art Vibe; The Portraits Series

The previous two weeks and this one are all from the temporary exhibition at the NPG, which focused on the earlier part of life for James VI and I. (There will be one other item from that exhibit next week, which is not exactly a portrait...)

This one is by the same artist who did the two in the first week of this series... It was much smaller (about one-third the wall-space of the prince and princess pieces). When you read the history, you will come to understand the more dour clothing, although there is still the exquisite attention to lace and jewellery details. Also, I love how this artist didn't succumb to the totally anodyne expressions so often found on paintings of the period. No Filter Here! Recall how the princess had a slightly haunted look... here, the lady looks at us as if from (an as yet unknown) photograph. We have a clear sense of her character from her eyes and the shape of her face, mouth, and chin, and from the fact that she has her pet with her. I like her!