An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Portrait of Olive Craster1762
Artist: Sir Nathaniel Dance-Holland
British, 1735–1811
portrait of a young woman wearing a choker of large pearls, a blue dress with bows on the bodice and white lace netting and ribbons over the shoulders, and white lace and tiny pink and yellow flowers in her hair, with a brown squirrel wearing a collar with a silver chain attached, perched on her PR hand; painted oval around image, with grey ground
28 1/2 × 23 11/16 in. (72.39 × 60.17 cm) (sight)
35 1/2 × 30 5/8 × 2 1/2 in. (90.17 × 77.79 × 6.35 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
England
18th century
The John R. Van Derlip Fund
In the quiet corners of history, we find the threads of stories woven with elegance and purpose. Olive Craster, born into the plush embrace of a distinguished family, stepped into the world of matrimony with her husband, George. Their union sparked a desire for adventure, leading them on an extravagant journey through the sunlit streets of France and Italy.
As they roamed cobblestone paths and basked in the warm glow of Mediterranean sunlight, Olive diligently documented each step they took. Her notes, filled with precise details of their escapades, reflected not just the places they visited but also her taste for the exquisite. She jotted down every purchase, from sumptuous gowns that whispered of courtly elegance to fashionable accessories that mirrored the spirit of the age.
In these meticulous records, Olive’s voice emerged, resonating with the quiet strength of women’s experiences in the eighteenth century. It is from this vibrant tapestry of life that we encounter the captivating work of Dance—a portrait that stands as a rare testament to female expression during a time when such representations often vanished into obscurity.
Mia’s collection has long sought to rectify the absence of British 18th century portraiture, and Dance's piece offers a striking addition, enriching the narrative of the era with every brushstroke. Together, Olive's journey and Dance's artistry echo a powerful truth: within every carefully curated detail lies the enduring spirit and complexity of women's experiences, forever alive and waiting to be discovered.
About the artist
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