The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 16, 2025

A Dancing Young Woman as Terpsichore

c. 1780

Angelica Kauffmann

(Swiss, 1741–1807)
England
oil on canvas
Overall: 91.5 x 70.8 cm (36 x 27 7/8 in.)
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Marlatt Fund 2025.3
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

In 1768, Kauffmann was a founder member of the Royal Academy of Arts, which didn’t admit another woman as a full academician until 1936.

Description

This dancing figure was inspired by recently excavated wall paintings from the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum, during a period when neoclassical style was fashionable. Angelica Kauffmann was among the most important painters of the 1800s, achieving success for portraits and history subjects—a category dominated by men. Highly educated, Kauffmann was also an accomplished musician who had struggled to choose between a career in fine art or music.
  • c. 1780
    Sir Edward Littleton, 4th Bt. (c. 1727–1812), Teddesley Hall, Staffordshire
    1812–1863
    Edward John Wallhouse Littleton (1791–1863), crated Baron Hatherton in 1835
    1863–1888
    Edward Richard Littleton, 2nd Baron Hatherton (1815–1888)
    1888–1930
    Edward George Percy Littleton, 3rd Baron Hatherton (1842–1930)
    1930–1944
    Edward Charles Littleton, 4th Baron Hatherton (1868–1944)
    1944–1969
    Edward Thomas Walhouse Littleton, 5th Baron Hatherton (1900–1969)
    1969–2024
    By Descent
    2024
    Lowell Libson & Jonny Yarker Ltd, London
    2025–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • {{cite web|title=A Dancing Young Woman as Terpsichore|url=false|author=Angelica Kauffmann|year=c. 1780|access-date=16 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2025.3