Question

How do we know that the woman in "Portrait of a Lady" was a member of the upper class?

Answer 1

I've found several references to "Portrait of a Lady." Who was the artist?

Answer 2

It says the artist is unknown.

Answer 3

These sites have several paintings with that title and by unknown artists. All of them seem to be portraits of elegantly dressed women. The title itself is an indication of her upper class standing.

http://mati.eas.asu.edu:8421/ChicanArte/html_pages/18thCenIssOutl.html

http://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/collection/international/painting/i/ipa00046.html

http://british-miniatures2.blogspot.com/2007/07/unknown-portrait-of-lady-wearing-bonnet.html

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=%22Portrait+of+a+Lady%22+Unknown&um=1&sa=N&tab=wi

Answer 4

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=%22portrait+of+a+lady%22+painting&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2

See how many different ones there are? Which one are you referring to?

??

Answer 5

I'm talking about the first one in the last row.

Answer 6

Elegant dress, for sure, as Ms. Sue has stated.

Also look at her hands -- clean, well cared for, and with rings on.

Look at her hair -- well done with a sophisticated, almost transparent head cloth.

All aspects of this shout "upper class"! Contrast this with the second images in the first and third rows. What do you see and not see?