A Lady Holding a Rattle (1885) by Sarah Henrietta Purser
Bring the beauty and depth of Irish art history into your space with this print of A Lady Holding a Rattle (1885) by Sarah Henrietta Purser. This masterful portrait captures Mrs. Mary Sturgis (née de la Poer Beresford) with remarkable elegance and emotional complexity, offering a striking window into the Victorian era.
At first glance, this three-quarter-length portrait highlights the refinement and fashion of Victorian womanhood. Mary Sturgis is depicted seated in a white dress, her neat waist accented by a dramatic black bonnet adorned with green feathers. In her hand, she holds a doll's rattle with an air of quiet detachment, her thoughtful expression subtly challenging societal expectations of her time.
Purser's brilliant interplay of impressionistic brushwork and precise detail is on full display. Her fluid strokes evoke the influence of French masters like Manet and Degas, while her academic training at the Académie Julian shines through in the careful rendering of Mary's features.
More than just a celebrated artist, Sarah Purser was a trailblazer for Irish women in the arts. She navigated the challenges of the 19th-century art world with tenacity, leaving an indelible mark as a painter, advocate for Irish art, and founder of cultural institutions like An Túr Gloine.
Original medium: Oil on canvas; 41 × 31 cm. Collection: National Gallery of Ireland.
About this work
A Lady Holding a Rattle was painted by the Irish artist Sarah Henrietta Purser (1848–1943) in 1885. Purser trained at the Académie Julian in Paris and became the most sought-after portraitist in Ireland — she said she went through the British aristocracy like the measles. She founded the stained-glass co-operative An Túr Gloine in 1903 and was the first woman elected a full member of the Royal Hibernian Academy. The original is oil on canvas, 41 × 31 cm, and hangs in the National Gallery of Ireland (NGI.4131), purchased in 1975. This print is an open edition, made to order and shipped worldwide.
Sizes & Format
A4 21 × 29.7 cm / 8 × 12″
A3 (29.7 × 42 cm)
A2 (42 × 59.4 cm)
A1 (59.4 × 84.1 cm)
A0 (84.1 × 118.9 cm)
Unframed in every size; framed in black, white or wood at A4 21x29.7 cm, A3 (29.7 x 42 cm), A2 (42 x 59.4 cm) and A1 (59.4 x 84.1 cm)
Print & Frame Details
Archival matte paper, 250gsm (110lb), acid-free and FSC-certified — off-white, uncoated. Framed prints: solid oak or ash wood frame, 20mm thick, with shatterproof protective glazing. Ready to hang, hanging kit included. Unframed prints up to A4 ship flat; larger sizes ship rolled in a protective tube.
Free Worldwide Shipping
Framed prints are packed with protective corners and wrap, boxed with reinforced edges, and braced with internal supports for extra rigidity (max 3 frames per package). Every order ships free, made to order and delivered from the hub closest to you: Ireland 3–7 business days · UK 4–8 · USA 5–10 · Canada 6–12 · Australia 7–14.
