A remarkably unique 17th century double portrait depicting a black and white woman side by side as equals will remain in the UK, it was announced today. It should be presented to the public next year.
The painter of Allegorical painting of two ladies has not been identified, but the work has been dated to around 1650 and loosely attributed to the English school of that period. It surfaced at auction in 2021 and found a buyer who planned to take the work overseas before the UK government temporarily banned its export in hopes of keeping it for the nation instead.
It has now been acquired by the historic Compton Verney mansion for its art gallery in Warwickshire, England.
The two companions are depicted with strange markings on their faces, which would have been recognizable to contemporary audiences as patches of beauty. The practice dates back to Roman times and was often a way to cover up scars and blemishes. It seems, however, that the moralistic painting condemns the vanity of women, as an inscription above their heads refers to the use of patches as a sin of pride.
The presentation of the black woman as an adult who is not in a position of enslavement but instead wears a dress similar in style to that of her companion was highly unusual at this time. The painting will therefore also be an invaluable document for the study of race and gender in 17th century England.
The UK was able to prevent the work from permanently leaving the country thanks to the judgment of the Review Committee for the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), which advises the government on the national significance of the works. They found the painting to be of “exceptional importance”.
“The painting will delight the public and encourage debate and research on race and gender during the period,” committee chair Andrew Hochhauser KC commented in a press release.
Compton Verney bought the work using £304,534 from his collections settlement and with the help of two grants: £154,600 ($196,000) from the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) and a further £50,000 ($64,000 $) from a V&A Purchase Grant Fund. It is scheduled to undergo conservation work with the help of Yale specialists.
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