Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1973.1.48
Gallery Label:
Campbell was part of a powerful family based both in the Scottish Highlands and West Wales. In 1777, her brother John inherited their grandfather’s estates. That same year, he commissioned this painting of his sister from Reynolds, one of the most popular portraitists of the age. By sitting for the artist, nineteen-year-old Sarah displayed her wealth and position in society. Rather than stick to established formulas, Reynolds often used new pigments and mixes, which resulted in some of his colors, especially his pinks and reds, fading over time. This portrait is unusually well-preserved, showcasing the fashionable contrast between the sitter’s pale skin and her rosy cheeks, a detail that has been lost in many other Reynolds works. Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2025