Isabella Astley (1724-1741), aged eight

This charming portrait of Isabella Astley, painted by John Theodore Heins in 1732, captures the eight-year-old with a delicate sensibility. Heins, a prominent painter in Norwich, where he settled around 1720, was known for his portraits of local dignitaries and prominent families. The Astley family of Melton Constable were significant patrons, commissioning several of his finest works, including this piece. Heins's early works were sometimes signed 'D. Heins,' likely standing for 'Dietrich,' reflecting his probable German origins. This painting exemplifies his skill in capturing the innocence and status of his young sitters, a hallmark of his successful career in English provincial art during the 18th century. He was a prolific artist, monopolizing civic portraiture in Norwich for many years and even painting Handel. While Joseph Strutt, an 18th-century engraver, criticized Heins's mezzotints as 'stiff,' his painted portraits, such as this one, reveal a more refined and engaging style.