The Blonde

The Blonde, by Schlesinger, in MacLean's Gallery, Haymarket, 1869. 'That generally-natural and sweetly-fascinating painter, Greuze, was probably in the mind of Mr. Schlesinger when he painted the picture engraved. The vivacity of the eyes, the dimpled sweetness of the lips, and the archness of the expression are quite in the feeling of the early master. The "blonde" is so rare in some parts of the Continent that it directly suggests an Englishwoman; and to be an English woman is to be a beauty very justly argue those good people. We have little doubt that this pretty blonde was intended to represent an English fair. It is a pleasing picture by a popular painter, though not very important as a work of art'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869. Creator: W Thomas. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)