WILLIAM HEALY (FL. 1769-1778) AFTER ROBERT HEALY (1743-1771)  
Portrait of Mrs Charles Gardiner, née Florinda Norman (1722-1812) standing by an urn
1770s, after an original 1769
Grisaille pastel on...

WILLIAM HEALY (FL. 1769-1778) AFTER ROBERT HEALY (1743-1771)  
Portrait of Mrs Charles Gardiner, née Florinda Norman (1722-1812) standing by an urn
1770s, after an original 1769
Grisaille pastel on paper, 61.5 x 44.5 cm
In a giltwood ribbon frame

 

This delicate portrait of Mrs Charles Gardiner in a wooded landscape is an excellent example of the work of the pastellist William Healy, after a drawing by his older brother Robert. William and Robert were born in Dublin, sons of a designer of garden buildings, based on Essex Quay. At an early age they both entered the Dublin Society Drawing Schools, where Robert began to develop his characteristic portraits in black and white chalk; imitating the tonal effects of mezzotint prints, which were then highly fashionable.

These early drawings developed into the small full-length grisaille portraits for which he became celebrated. His series of nine outdoor scenes at Castletown are perhaps his best-known works of this type. He won numerous medals during his time at the Schools, exhibited annually with the Society of Artists of Ireland between 1766 and 1770 and was described by a contemporary publication as a ‘gentleman of an excellent taste and original genius’. His promising career was cut short in July 1771, when he died at the age of 28 from a cold caught while sketching cattle at Dangan, Co. Meath, for the first Earl of Mornington.

Following Robert’s death, William took over his studio and began to produce copies of his work, such as this, and further works in grisaille pastel, which are largely indistinguishable from his brother’s. In 1774 he held an exhibition of these drawings, which appears to have been successful in gaining him many of Robert’s former clients.

This portrait depicts Florinda Gardiner, originally from Lagore, Co. Meath, wife of The Right Hon Charles Gardiner, M.P. Together they had three sons and two daughters, among them Luke Gardiner, who famously developed the northside of Dublin city, laying out Mountjoy Square and Henrietta Street, and Anne, who went on to become Lady Clancarty. Florinda died in 1812, at the advance age of 90. She is shown here as a widow in her 40s; the inclusion of the urn commemorates her husband, who died shortly before she sat to Robert in 1769. Her portrait is a wonderful example of the distinctive grisaille technique, promoted at the Dublin Society Drawing schools and particularly associated with Dublin artists of this period. The subtle handling of light and texture, particularly in the foliage of the background trees and the gauzy sleeves of Mrs Gardiner’s dress, are typical of the Healy brothers’ refined style. The elaborate entwined ribbon giltwood frame is original to the portrait.

Ruth Kenny

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