Mrs. John Garden (Ann Garden, 1769–1842) and Her Children, John (1796–1854) and Ann Margaret (born 1793)
John Hoppner, 1796 or 1797
About this artwork
In the opulent tradition of late Georgian England, John Hoppner *Mrs. John Garden (Ann, 1769–1842) and Her Children John (1796–4) and Ann Margaretborn 1793)* a tender family moment around 1796–1797. Painted in oil on canvas—a medium favored for its luminous depth and ability to render sumptuous fabrics and lifelike skin tones—this intimate portrait depicts Ann Garden, a woman of evident social standing, with her young daughter Ann Margaret (about three or four years old) and newborn son John. At roughly 50 by 40 inches, it’s scaled for a private drawing room, emphasizing domestic harmony amid Britain’s prosperous merchant class. Hoppner, a celebrated rival to Sir Joshua Reynolds, excelled in portraits that blended softness with grandeur, using fluid brushwork to evoke warmth and vitality. This work exemplifies his skill in grouping figures naturally, highlighting maternal affection and familial bonds that were cultural ideals of the era. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s European Paintings collection—thanks to the 1914 bequest of Maria DeWitt Jesup from her husband Morris K. Jesup’s holdings—it offers a glimpse into elite family life, where such paintings served as heirlooms symbolizing legacy and refinement. Notice the delicate interplay of gazes and textures, inviting you to ponder their story across centuries.