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Women's stories--HerStories--have historically been overlooked, forgotten, or silenced. The Smith seeks to reverse this trend by highlighting unknown accomplishments and challenges surrounding the women represented in our Victorian portraiture collection.


Rather than pore over Joshua Reynolds’ brushstrokes as art historians have for centuries, this project asks questions like: who was the sitter, Harriet Dutens? What was her life like when she sat for her portrait in 1772? What is her legacy?


The Hidden HerStories of Harriet Dutens, Agnes Smith Greig & Georgina Smith that we have begun to uncover mark an exciting shift away from male-dominated narratives to ones where the women depicted on canvas come alive!

3 artworks
Harriet Dutens of Craigforth
Image credit: The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

Harriet Dutens of Craigforth 1772

Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792)

Oil on canvas

H 75 x W 62 cm

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

Agnes Smith Greig
Image credit: The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

Agnes Smith Greig 1840

Daniel Macnee (1806–1882)

Oil on canvas

H 90 x W 69.5 cm

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

Georgina Smith
Image credit: The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum

Georgina Smith 1846

John Graham-Gilbert (1794–1866)

Oil on canvas

H 125 x W 99 cm

The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum