I like finding mysterious painters. When Thomas Hardy is mentioned most of us think of the author of ‘Far From the Madding Crowd’ or ‘Jude the Obscure’ but in this case it’s Thomas the obscure. Despite portraying many well-known people of the time, including the great composer Joseph Haydn and the socialite Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire, the painter himself has been shrouded by the vagueness and, in the words of Horace Walpole, ‘gloomth’ of time.

Here’s his portrait of Mrs Hyatt, which shows a lady every bit as confident as a Duchess and dressed to match. Painted in 1786, it demonstrates his ample abilities as an assured painter.