A typical barbed little poem from Anna Maria Lenngren

For Lise, who requested to be portrayed as a nun

I thought you’d be content, as you’re full grown, to be

A dazzling Venus in my picture;

But since you now request of me

That as a nun I shall depict you,

This thereby halves the difficulties I foresee,

For, lovely Lise, since I’d not offend good taste,

Your portrait as a nun should reach but to the waist.