Portrait of Mrs. Decatur Howard Miller (Eliza Credilla Hare)
1850
oil
From the collection of Walters Art Museum
1850
oil
From the collection of Walters Art Museum
This painting is a portrait of a woman, likely Mrs. Decatur Howard Miller, depicted in a formal setting. She is dressed in a red velvet shawl with lace trim, over a white dress, and has her hair styled in an updo. The woman is shown standing in front of a mirror, with a table to her left featuring a fishbowl with a goldfish inside. The woman's gaze is directed towards the viewer, and her right arm is bent at the elbow, resting on the table. The background of the painting is a warm, golden color, which complements the woman's attire. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the painting, drawing the viewer's attention to the subject. To learn more about the artist's technique, look up chiaroscuro.
