Mrs Sheridan

Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1787) was painted by Thomas Gainsborough between 1785 and 1787. It is an oil on canvas portrait of the wife of the famous playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan who is famous for producing works such as ‘The School for Scandal’ and ‘The Rivals’. It was originally exhibited at Gainsborough’s studio in Pall Mall in 1786. The National Gallery bought it in 1937.

Mrs Sheridan (Elizabeth Ann Linley) was from a musical family and became a renowned musician and singer before she gave up her career to marry Richard in 1773 who would not allow her to appear professionally on stage as he felt this was a poor reflection on his gentlemanly status.

Their marriage was a stormy one as their temperaments were ill-matched, Richard preferring the life of the city, whilst Elizabeth prefered the country. They both had affairs and spent a good deal of time apart.

By the age of 36 in 1790 she was showing signs of ill-health, but maintaining an appearance of involvement in London society, she met and had an affair with Edward FitzGerald. She had a baby girl by him in 1792, but her illness was exacerbated by the birth and she died of tuberculosis on 28th June 1792, 3 months after the birth of her daughter.