The Duchess of Devonshire's Gossip Guide to the 18th Century: Favorites

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Johan Zoffany, Colonel Blair with his Family and an Indian Ayah, 1786

Mythosidhe said...: Things that are awesome about this painting:

1) Lovely dresses
2) Clavichord
3) Kitty-cat
4) Paintings within a painting

Overall, fabulous :); January 7, 2010 at 5:08 AM
nightsmusic said...: I agree, the details are stunning. And I'd really like that blue and cream dress. Really...; January 7, 2010 at 11:13 AM
Juli*A*rtemise said...: Don't we just love those paintings with other paintings in it? :-) Wonderful work, I check this blog all the time. ^^; January 7, 2010 at 1:27 PM
Heather Carroll said...: There's also just something so comforting about interior scenes.

Thank you Julia :); January 7, 2010 at 5:13 PM
Tulip said...: Indian Ayah looks more a child than the child she's supposed to care for.; January 8, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Jessi P (AKA Emily Ryder) said...: @Tulip - I was surprised at that too! I've been under the impression that ayahs were/are usually older, motherly sorts of figures, like (much later than this painting of course) Mary Lennox's ayah in The Secret Garden. Am I wrong here?; January 8, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Margravine Louisa said...: i think it is pretty cool - esp the addition of the ayah - was that a common thing to add the help?; January 12, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Heather Carroll said...: I always associate ayahs with matrons too which is probably due to the Secret Garden as well!; January 13, 2010 at 10:51 AM