Christopher Anstey and his daughter Mary Ann
- Artist: William Hoare
- Date: circa 1776
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 49 3/4 in. x 39 3/4 in. (1265 mm x 1010 mm)
- Portrays: Christopher Anstey, Mary Ann Anstey
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
Here we see Christopher Anstey, a poet from the late eighteenth century, positioned in a relaxed pose beside his eldest daughter, Mary Ann, on the opposite side. The girl holds a fashion doll—those Parisian pieces sent to dressmakers to show the latest styles—with feathered hair that mimics the extravagance of contemporary fashion. Hoare’s brushwork gives each figure gentle realism; the child’s playful gesture seems almost an interlude in his study. This oil on canvas was painted around 1776 by William Hoare.
See it in person
Christopher Anstey and his daughter Mary Ann is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
