It depicts the
singers Elizabeth Ann Linley and her younger sister
Mary Linley. Gainsborough was at the time a Bath-based painter focusing on society portraits. The sisters were part of the musical Linley Family based in the city, both daughters of
Thomas Linley the elder. Elizabeth famously
eloped with the playwright
Richard Brinsley Sheridan. The two sisters are shown in a natural setting. One of them is seated, with a music book on her lap, while she looks smiling to the viewer. The other sister is up and rests calmly her shoulder upon her sibling, as she looks to the left. The painting was displayed at the
Royal Academy's
Summer Exhibition of 1772 at
Pall Mall along with another Gainsborough work
Portrait of Sir William Pulteney. In 1785 it was retouched by Gainsborough at the request of the Linley family to make the costumes of the style-conscious sisters reflect the current fashion. In 1835 it was donated by their brother
William Linley to the
Dulwich Picture Gallery and remains in the collection there. ==See also==