Artwork
Mrs. Birdsall Cornell
Mrs. Birdsall Cornell is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Daniel Huntington. It dates from 1860 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 53.76
- Credit line
- Gift of Lady Doverdale, 1953
About this work
If you like how Huntington makes everyday people feel real, look up the subject portraits.
A woman in a dark dress sits in a red armchair, her hands folded in her lap. Soft light falls on her face and the ruffles of her collar. The background is a plain, warm brown.
Huntington painted this in 1860, when most portraits showed people in fancy poses. Here, Mrs. Cornell looks calm and natural, like someone you’d meet at a quiet tea. The painting feels more like a snapshot than a formal sitting.
If you like how Huntington makes everyday people feel real, look up the subject portraits.
Technique & Style
Daniel Huntington executed Mrs. Birdsall Cornell in 1860 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 141.9 cm in height and 111.8 cm in width, presenting a formal portrait of a woman. As a genre piece classified within the American portrait tradition, the painting relies on the medium of oil to render the subject's likeness and attire with the finish characteristic of mid-19th-century academic portraiture.
History & Provenance
Mrs. Birdsall Cornell is an oil-on-canvas portrait by Daniel Huntington, dated 1860. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains held and classified within the institution's American Wing. No further details regarding the original commission, the sitter's relationship to the artist, intermediate owners, acquisition circumstances, or chain of custody are documented in the available sources.
Overview
Daniel Huntington painted Mrs. Birdsall Cornell in 1860. This oil-on-canvas portrait captures a woman seated in a red armchair, her hands gently folded. The work is a notable example of American portraiture from the mid-19th century, reflecting the artist's focus on individual likenesses after his earlier association with landscape painting. It is housed within The American Wing, representing a period of evolving artistic styles.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents Mrs. Birdsall Cornell not in a grand, performative manner, but with an understated presence. Her relaxed posture and direct gaze invite a sense of familiarity, as if encountering her in a private setting. This naturalistic portrayal emphasizes her individual character over social status, offering a quiet intimacy that distinguishes it from many contemporary portraits that favored more theatrical or idealized representations of their subjects.
Context
Daniel Huntington, initially recognized for his contributions to the Hudson River School, later dedicated his practice primarily to portraiture. Mrs. Birdsall Cornell exemplifies this shift, showcasing his skill in capturing individual likenesses. Created in 1860, the work also subtly reflects broader artistic developments, aligning with the nascent American Impressionist movement through its emphasis on light, naturalism, and a less formal compositional approach, moving away from earlier academic traditions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Daniel Huntington (October 4, 1816 – April 19, 1906) was an American artist who belonged to the art movement known as the Hudson River School and later became a prominent portrait painter.
