Maria Mathilda Bingham with Two of her Children

About this artwork

Maria Mathilda Bingham, echtgenote van Henry Baring, met twee van haar kinderen, vermoedelijk James Bridgeman en Anna Maria. Mevrouw Baring is ten voeten uit geportretteerd, zittend op een rode sofa. Links achter de sofa haar dochter die een kam door het haar van haar moeder haalt. Rechts op de sofa de zoon, die een grote hond omarmt. Op de achtergrond een landschap. Het deel van het doek met de figuur van Henry Baring is door de schilder tijdens de vervaardiging afgesneden.

Art Historical Context

### Maria Mathilda Bingham with Two Her Children This grand oil-on-canvas portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence, painted around 1810–1818, Maria Mathilda Bingham, an American heiress and wife of British banker Henry Baring, a tender family moment. Seated full-length on a luxurious red sofa, Mrs. Baring is attended by her daughter—likely Anna Maria—who gently combs her hair, while her son, presumed to be James Bridgeman, a large dog on the sofa's right. A serene landscape backdrop adds depth and elegance, evoking the Romantic ideal of domestic harmony. Lawrence, a leading Regency-era portraitist and President of the Royal Academy, excelled in life-sized compositions like this nearly 2x2-meter canvas, using fluid brushwork, rich colors, and dramatic lighting to convey vitality and intimacy. His style bridged Neo-Classicism and Romanticism, making aristocratic subjects appear both regal and relatable—a hallmark of early 19th-century British portraiture. An intriguing detail: Lawrence himself cut out Henry Baring's figure during creation, possibly reflecting the couple's separation around 1818. Now at the Rijksmuseum, this altered masterpiece highlights shifting family dynamics amid high society's glamour. (198 words)