Jane Austen was born in 1775, the same year as Mrs. Robert Shurlock (born Henrietta Ann Jane Russell). Had Jane married and given birth to a child in 1801, would she have presented as charming a picture as Mrs. Shurlock and her daughter Ann? Both women would have been twenty-six years of age at the time. From this description of Jane, Mrs. Shurlock could well have been a relative, for according to her nephew James Austen-Leigh, his aunt Jane had:
“ full round cheeks, with mouth and nose small and well formed, light hazel eyes, and brown hair forming natural curls close round her face.”
John Russell, the painter and sitter’s father, was known for his skills with pastels, as this image from the Metropolitan Museum of Art clearly demonstrates. Henrietta took lessons from her father and became a talented artist in her own right.
Jane Austen's World 
The similarity is amazing!
Amazing resemblance!
That is simply amazing. I am looking at a picture of Jane right now and they could have been sisters or cousins.
Hi Vic, I just wrote a post in my about it! Thanks again!
http://janeaustenclub.blogspot.com/2010/03/regencia-pintura-de-uma-mae-com-um-bebe.html
Henrietta Russell is an artist I did not find when I recently did a post of Regency female painters. I’m very glad to discover her, and her father, John Russell. I’ll be looking up both of them!
Beautiful portrait! How wonderful to share this and contemplate the mother as contemporary of Jane. Something so delicate about the painting, like photo with soft focus. Thanks!
[…] Portrait: Mrs Robert Shurlock and her daughter Ann, painted by her father, John Russell. This entry was posted in Landscape and Property. Bookmark the permalink. Comments are closed, but you can leave a trackback: Trackback URL. « Kensington Gardens […]