Siddons was the leading tragedienne of the early Regency era.

Lawrence was romantically involved with two of her daughters and had known her since his days as a child prodigy in Bath.

Lawrence depicts Siddons in full-length during a dramatic reading.

[2] She is shown with volumes of plays by Thomas Otway and William Shakespeare.

The painting was acquired for the nation in 1847 and is today in the collection of Tate Britain in London.