Richard Crosse, who was born deaf, was among the most productive miniature painters in 18th-century England – but his larger-format portrait miniatures are rare. The genre-like portrayal of Lady Mexborough, playing the guitar, was shown at the Royal Academy in 1770. As with many of Crosse’s portraits, the skin tones have faded due to his use of sensitive red pigments.

Description in Art Bulletin of Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, vol 15, 2008:
Possibly Lady Mexborough, 1770
NMB 2580
Like many of his generation of successful English miniaturists,
Richard Crosse was to be influenced greatly by the graphic character
of the German-born artist Jeremiah Meyer. Also characteristic are the
frequently faded carnations, where today we can infer underpainting in
green. While Crosse produced a large number of small half-length
portraits, his larger works in the portrait genre are relatively unusual.
Crosse exhibited a portrayal of Lady Mexborough holding a guitar at
the Royal Academy in 1770. This new acquisition is probably identical to
the miniature portrait then exhibited by Crosse. [slut]