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Catherine Maria ‘Kitty’ Fisher, was one of the most celebrated courtesans in 1760s England. Using her wit, charm and beauty, she rose through the echelons of London’s fashionable society. Throughout her career, she had countless lovers of significant political influence and became, in the modern sense of the term, a celebrity. London society was both scandalised and fascinated by her behaviour, and she cultivated her celebrity status by collaborating with writers and artists to promote her public image. Reynolds’ portrayal of Kitty recalls the tale of Cleopatra’s legendary banquet, at which she and Mark Antony wagered over who could provide the most lavish feast. Cleopatra triumphed when she took a pearl from her earring, dissolved it in a goblet of vinegar and drank it.

English Heritage, Kenwood

London

Title

Kitty Fisher (1741–1767) as Cleopatra Dissolving the Pearl

Date

1759

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 76.2 x W 63.5 cm

Accession number

88028795

Acquisition method

bequeathed to Kenwood by Walter Edward Guinness, 1st Baron Moyne, 1944

Work type

Painting

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English Heritage, Kenwood

Hampstead Lane, London, Greater London NW3 7JR England

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