] Recently I've read a biography of JA (by Valerie Grosvenor Myer ) and I can remember that she says that one time, after JA wrote (and perhaps published) Pride and Prejudice, she went to a art-exhibition with some friends. JA looked for painted potraits of her characters, while she was visiting that exhibition. She said that she couldn't find a good portrait of Darcy, but did find one who had some simularities with lizzy.

Actually, JA wrote about having found Mrs. Bingley's portrait but not Mrs. Darcy's. She was in London helping her brother Henry who was moving from Sloane Street to Henrietta Street. He took her to some art exhibitions in London, and she wrote to Cassandra on May, 24th, 1813:

"Henry & I went to the Exhibition in Spring Gardens. It is not though a good collection, but I was very pleased -particularly (pray tell Fanny) with a small portrait of Mrs. Bingley, excessively like her. I went in hopes of seeing one of her sister, but there was no Mrs. Darcy; perhaps however, I may find her in the Great Exhibition which we shall go to, if we have time;- I have no chance of her in the collection of Sir Joshua Reynold's Paintings which is now showing in Pall Mall, & which we are also to visit.- Mrs. Bingley's is exactly herself, size, shaped face, features & sweetness; there never was a greater likeness. She is dressed in a white gown, with green ornaments, which convinces me of what I had always supposed, that green was a favourite colour with her. I dare say Mrs. D. will be in yellow."

Latter that very day, she finished the letter with this:

"We have both to the Exhibition & Sir Joshua Reynolds, - and I am disappointed, for there was nothing like Mrs. D. at either.- I can only imagine that Mr. D. prizes any picture of her too much to like it should be exposed to the public eye. I can imagine he would have that sort of feeling -that mixure of love, pride, & delicacy."

I think Martha M. Rainbold, Dierdre Le Faye and others have tried to identify which portrait was considered by JA as Mrs. Bingley (née Jane Bennet), since the catalogue of the exhibition still exists, and there are 4 choices:

No. 27 'Portrait of Mrs. Q'" by J.M.F. Huet-Villiers (You can find it in the link below, but not directly, go down the page to object no. 102 and click on the plate on the right and a window with two portraits pop. It's the one on the right).

The other 3 are portraits by Charles John Robertson: Lady Nelthorpe (no. 246) and her sisters-in-law: Lady Anderson (no. 15) and Mrs. Clarke of Welton Place (no. 116). (I've not seen these).

I do not know if it helps to date P&P based on what was written by JA about the portraits.