Mrs. Whaley (died 1798, Isle of Man)

Hi everyone! My name is Isabella, and I'm so excited to show you a really cool painting! It's a portrait of a lady named Mrs. Whaley. She lived a long, long time ago! Can anyone guess how long ago? (Pause for answers). That's right, it was hundreds of years ago! nn This painting is HUGE! It's almost as tall as [mention something familiar to the children, like a doorway or a teacher]. Look how big it is! The artist, a man named John Hoppner, painted Mrs. Whaley on a big canvas using oil paints. It's like a really, really detailed photograph, but made with paint! nn Look at Mrs. Whaley's dress. It's long and dark, maybe black or dark grey. Do you see the pretty pattern on it? It's like tiny flowers or leaves. What kind of patterns do you like on your clothes? (Pause for answers). Her dress is very fancy for that time. And look at her hair! It's all styled up, very neat and pretty. What do you think she used to keep her hair in place? (Pause for answers). nn See the background? It's a little blurry, but it looks like a garden or a park. The artist didn't want the background to take away from Mrs. Whaley. He wanted us to look at her. It's like a spotlight on her! The artist was really good at making her look real, wasn't he? nn This painting shows us what people looked like and how they dressed a long, long time ago. It's like a window into the past! It also shows us how talented the artist was. He was really good at painting people, making them look lifelike. What do you think Mrs. Whaley was like? Was she kind? Serious? (Pause for answers). We can only guess, but the painting gives us a little clue. nn So, next time you see a painting, remember to look closely at all the details. Look at the colors, the clothes, the background – everything tells a story! Thank you for joining me today! Do you have any questions about Mrs. Whaley or the painting? nn