Photos: Jonathan Russell.

The identity of the young woman is not known for certain, but she is suspected to be Elizabeth ‘Elsie’ Ebsworth, who married, four years after this portrait was painted, Scottish-born army officer and Conservative politician George Swinton. In 1897, now a professional singer and society hostess, Elizabeth was painted by Annie’s friend and supporter, John Singer Sargent.

• Media: oil on canvas.
• Dimensions: 720 x 1220 mm (0.88 m²).
• History: signed and dated 1891; exhibited Manchester Art Gallery, 23 Feb 2018 to 6 Jan 2019, on loan from Richard Taylor Fine Art, “Portrait of Miss Elsie Elizabeth Ebsworth commissioned on her engagement to her future husband, Mr George Swinton … Never exhibited,” text later changed to “It has been suggested that the sitter is  Elsie Elizabeth Ebsworth later Mrs George Swinton,” as the identity of the subject is not known for certain. “Provenance: Coursham Court, Wiltshire.”
• Location: Richard Taylor Fine Art.