Thomas Lawrence
British, 1769 ‑ 1830
Portrait of Susan, Countess of Guilford, and Her Daughter Georgiana, about 1812
Oil on canvas
82 5/8 × 58 in. (209.9 × 147.3 cm.)
Purchase, Museum Art Fund
Conservation funded by Edith and Jacob Horn, The Horn Foundation, with additional support from
a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency  1959.2

What’s the Backstory?
On a seaside terrace, a mother and daughter clasp each other’s hands affectionately. In 1807, about five years before this work was painted, Lawrence, who faced chronic financial difficulties, was near bankruptcy. Thomas Coutts, a wealthy Scottish banker, assisted him in managing his debt. A year later, Coutts showed his continued willingness to help his friend by commissioning portraits of his three children, including this one of his eldest daughter, Susan. Despite the happiness conveyed in this portrait, Susan Coutts experienced great tragedy in her life. The Earl of Guilford died after a riding accident in 1802, leaving Susan widowed with two small children. Susan then outlived her daughter Georgiana, who died prematurely at age 36.