Love in Her Eyes Sits Playing

John Raphael Smith after The Reverend Matthew William Peters

National Gallery of Art

The image shows an upper-body portrait of a seated woman. She is positioned facing slightly to her right, with her head tilted gently towards her left shoulder while looking at the viewer. The woman has soft facial features, with a gentle smile and prominent eyes. Her hair is styled in loose curls that frame her face and is adorned with an elaborate hat that features decorative elements like ribbons and possibly feathers. She is wearing a sheer, flowing fabric draped over her shoulders and upper body, and a dress with visible buttons down the front. Around her wrist, she wears a string of beads or pearls. The background is a dark, textured curtain or drape that contrasts with the lighter tones of her attire and skin.