Portrait of the Hon. Emily Mary Lamb (1787-1869), later Countess Cowper and Viscountess Palmerston 

This is Samuel Cousins’ portrait of Emily Mary Lamb, probably made sometime in the early 19th century with oil on canvas. The oval composition and soft, feathery brushstrokes give it a dreamy, almost ethereal quality, like a memory fading at the edges. Look at the way Cousins builds up the form of Emily's dress with these delicate, broken strokes of white. It's not about precise detail, but about capturing the essence of light and texture. You can almost feel the softness of the fabric. Then there is the stark contrast of the red necklace which draws the eye straight to the centre of the piece. This emphasis on process and gesture reminds me a little of Gainsborough, who also used loose, expressive brushwork to convey a sense of movement and vitality. And like a lot of great portraits, it’s less about capturing a likeness and more about capturing a feeling, an emotional atmosphere. It’s a reminder that art is always a conversation, a dialogue between artists across time.