Pauline in the Yellow Dress

Pauline in the Yellow Dress was painted by Sir James Gunn and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1944. It caused a true sensation - The Daily Mail described it as the ‘Mona Lisa of 1944’. Gunn was Britain’s foremost portrait painter of his time. Amongst his subjects were two kings and three prime ministers, but he painted Pauline many times. The painting features the artist’s second wife as the subject, and the bright mustard yellow dress worn by her remained with the Gunn family until their recent generous donation to the Harris Museum and Art Gallery. The painting, known locally as Preston’s Mona Lisa, was originally a controversial purchase as it depicted an elegant, wealthy woman wearing makeup and an elaborate dress during a wartime period of austerity, during which time clothing was rationed and women found it difficult to acquire cosmetics.

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