Artwork
Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake
Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Chester Harding. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a product of artist Chester (Charles) Harding, the piece employs the oil-on-canvas medium typical of 19th-century American portraiture.
Created in 1840, the portrait of Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 76.2 centimeters in height and 63.5 centimeters in width, adhering to traditional portrait dimensions of the period. As a product of artist Chester (Charles) Harding, the piece employs the oil-on-canvas medium typical of 19th-century American portraiture.
The painting is classified within the genre of portraiture and depicts a female subject. Currently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the artwork resides in The American Wing. The physical construction relies on standard materials of the era, utilizing oil pigments applied directly to the woven canvas ground to achieve the final visual representation of the sitter.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake was created in 1840 by the American artist Chester Harding, also known as Charles Harding. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 76.2 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width. While the specific details regarding the original commissioning patron or the precise chain of ownership prior to its current location are not detailed in the provided records, the painting is firmly attributed to Harding and dated to 1840.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing, where it is classified as a portrait genre piece depicting a woman.
Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake is an 1840 oil on canvas portrait by Chester (Charles) Harding, classified within The American Wing. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is catalogued as part of the museum's holdings. No specific inventory or accession number is provided in the available documentation, and the sources do not record any exhibition history for the piece.
Overview
Chester Harding's Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake, painted in oil on canvas around 1842, exemplifies the work of an American portraitist active in the early nineteenth century. Harding established a reputation for capturing the likenesses of notable individuals across the United States and England. This particular work, housed within the American Wing, reflects his characteristic approach to commissioned portraiture during a period of evolving artistic styles.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents a woman, Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake, seated in a red chair with her hands gently folded in her lap. Her black dress contrasts with the chair's vibrant hue, while her face and white collar are softly illuminated against a dark background. The sitter's direct gaze engages the viewer, suggesting a person of local or social standing, a common subject for Harding's commissions. This quiet intensity offers a distinct presence among the artist's known works.
Context
Chester Harding was known for his itinerant practice, traveling across the country with a portable easel to fulfill commissions for anyone able to pay. His career flourished during an era often associated with American folk art. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds numerous works by Harding, predominantly portraits of men.
In this collection, Mrs. Francis Stanton Blake stands out for its intimate portrayal of a woman, offering a less common perspective within his oeuvre.
Artist & collection
Artist
Chester Harding (September 1, 1792 – April 1, 1866) was an American portrait painter known for his paintings of prominent figures in the United States and England.
