Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an oil painting by the Romanticist artist Charles Willson Peale. It dates from 1775 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The focus on her attire and accessories emphasizes her personal appearance and contemporary fashion, typical of mid‑18th‑century American portraiture.
The painting portrays an unidentified woman wearing a cap, lace collar, necklace, and ribbon, as indicated by the work’s depicted elements. The focus on her attire and accessories emphasizes her personal appearance and contemporary fashion, typical of mid‑18th‑century American portraiture. By rendering these details in oil on canvas, Peale presents a likeness that serves both as a record of the sitter’s identity and as a reflection of the social conventions surrounding feminine dress of the period.
Technique & Style
Created in 1775, Charles Willson Peale's Portrait of a Woman is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures approximately 24.8 inches in height and 20 inches in width. Stylistically, the painting functions as a formal portrait depicting a female subject adorned with specific accessories, including a cap, lace, a necklace, and a ribbon.
The medium and composition reflect the portraiture conventions of the period, focusing on the detailed rendering of the sitter's attire and personal ornamentation. The piece is currently held within the collection of the American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its material integrity and stylistic execution serve as representative examples of Peale's early American portraiture.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Woman was created by Charles Willson Peale in 1775. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 24.8 inches in height and 20 inches in width. While the specific identity of the sitter and the details of the original commission remain unrecorded in the provided sources, the painting depicts a woman adorned with a cap, lace, necklace, and ribbon.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing. The creation date is consistently cited as 1775 across available records, establishing its origin in the mid-18th century.
Overview
This oil on canvas, titled "Portrait of a Woman," presents a seated female figure. The artist captures her with a direct gaze and a composed expression. She is depicted wearing a cap and ribbon, with careful attention given to her attire.
The painting exemplifies a common approach to portraiture from its period, emphasizing the individual's presence through focused detail and a clear presentation.
Context
This portrait reflects a common aesthetic in American painting during its time, where clarity and directness were valued. The artistic choices, such as the focused presentation of the sitter against a plain backdrop, align with practices seen in the work of contemporaries. For instance, the stylistic characteristics present here share affinities with the portraiture of artists like Charles Willson Peale, offering a point of comparison for understanding the period's artistic trends.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Willson Peale (April 15, 1741 – February 22, 1827) was an American painter, military officer, scientist, and naturalist.
