Reynolds, who painted his men in heroic attitudes, often cast his women in mythological roles, such as his portrayal of actress Sara Siddons as the Tragic Muse. An accomplished tragedienne, Mrs. Siddons was able to appear both elegant and comfortable as the tragic muse. She sits on a throne in an attitude that Reynolds borrowed from Michelangelo's Prophet Joel in the Sistine Chapel; the shadowy allegorical figures of Pity and Terror, lurking behind her, add to the theatrical quality of the portrait. After he finished it, Reynolds humbly confessed to the great lady, "I would not lose the honour this opportunity offered to me of going down to posterity on the hem of your garment", and signed his name on the edge of Mrs. Siddon's voluminous skirt.
