“A Group of Children” by Christina Robertson (née Saunders), Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Elizabeth Ellis is about five years old in this picture. She wears a low-cut dress with a pointed waist, which was fashionable for both girls and women at the time. William Ellis was a London surgeon. Unfortunately, his wife had died soon after Elizabeth’s birth. William Ellis’s affection for his daughter is suggested by the way he sits with her close to him. The picture has a landscape setting, which was popular for portraits at this time. It gave an impression of informality but also suggested that the family was wealthy enough to own a lot of land. Francis Hayman was a London painter.

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: Christina Robertson (née Saunders) (1796-1854)
Date: about 1833

Image details
Date: 14 June 2019
Camera body: iPhone 7 Plus
Lens: Wide Camera 28mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 28mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/13s
ISO: 100
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.