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THOMAS GAINSBOROUGH, R.A. (1727-1788) MRS. HATCHETT Canvas, 24 1/2 inches by 29 5/8 inches

HALF-LENGTH. Standing; full face, eyes directed toward the spectator. Low neck, yellowish dress. Dark powdered hair arranged in ringlets, some of which are falling down on her shoulders. Landscape background, on the left a spray of convolvulus. Painted oval.

This portrait of Mrs. Hatchett was painted in 1786, immediately before her marriage with Chas. Hatchett of Mount Claire, Rochampton, son of John Hatchett, coach builder of Long Acre, London. He was descended from old French Noblesse, but better known in England as a literary and scientific man, a friend of Sr Joseph Banks, Mr. Canning and the book-collecting Lord Spencer, a founder of the Linnean Society and the Royal Institution. Hatchett died Feb. 10, 1847, at Bellevue House, Chelsea, aged 82. He contributed many papers to the scientific publications of his day and discovered the metal columbium or tantalum.

The lady painted was (like the Hatchetts) of a Huguenot family, which disguised itself under the English name of Collick, but the real name is lost. She was 17 when Gainsborough painted her. He used to spend many evenings at her father's house, and was won by the young lady's extraordinary musical genius. She was a pupil of Clementi, who pronounced her the first non-professional performer in England.

Gainsborough asked to paint her portrait, and declared he would do his best; he sent it home a wedding gift from the painter.

It has been in the collections of Alfred Rothschild, Chas. Wertheimer and Archibald Coates of Paisley.

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