Three ladies in large bonnets seen from behind

Nathaniel Dance (he later added Holland to his name, when he was created a baronet) established himself as a portraitist and history painter of note. However, he virtually abandoned his career from 1776, having been the beneficiary of a substantial inheritance which left him financially independent. He continued to execute works for personal pleasure or for that of his friends and family and amongst these were a number of rapidly executed, on the spot, humorous sketches and observations, such as the present sheet. There is an album in the Tate, London, which contains other such studies by the artist.