“The Cholmondeley ladies” ca 1600-1610
“The Cholmondeley ladies” ca 1600-1610 Unknown Artist This painting is a mystery. There is an inscription on the painting that reads cryptically “Two Ladies of the Cholmondeley Family, Who were born the same day, Married the same day, And brought to Bed [gave birth] the same day” The traditional story about the painting is that the ladies are sisters. They certainly share a resemblance so they could very well be related.We know one thing though,the ladies came from nobility. The ladies are dressed to the nines in white gowns and sports massive collars and the babies are swaddled in sumptous red christening robes. I doubt they actually wore that to bed though,let alone after just have given birth. ;) The pose in wich they are portrayed is normally used in paintings,but more often used on tomb effigies. It adds an uncomfortable aspect to the painting. Maybe the ladies both died in childbirth and this was a way to honor the memory of them… -- source link
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