Artwork
Mrs. Andrew Sigourney
Mrs. Andrew Sigourney is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Gilbert Stuart. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil on canvas portrait, titled Mrs.
- Accession no.
- 1978.380
- Credit line
- Gift of Donald F. Bush, in memory of Harriet P. Bush, 1978
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait, the painting emphasizes the sitter’s likeness and attire, characteristic of Stuart’s refined handling of facial features and textile details.
The work is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a medium Stuart frequently employed for his portraits. Both sources identify the medium as oil on canvas and note that the painting depicts a woman, placing it within the genre of portraiture. As a portrait, the painting emphasizes the sitter’s likeness and attire, characteristic of Stuart’s refined handling of facial features and textile details. No information regarding the painting’s condition or specific handling techniques is provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
Gilbert Stuart executed the oil-on-canvas portrait of Elizabeth Williams Sigourney, known as Mrs. Andrew Sigourney, in 1818. The work measures approximately 68.6 by 55.9 centimeters. While the specific details regarding the original commission or the immediate ownership chain following its creation are not detailed in the available records, the painting eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed within the American Wing. The piece is classified as a portrait genre work depicting a woman.
Mrs. Andrew Sigourney is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is part of the American Wing’s collection and listed under the museum’s inventory as a work by Gilbert Stuart painted in 1818. The painting entered the museum’s holdings as documented in the museum’s catalog records, and its accession is recorded as part of the American Wing’s portrait series. Exhibition records provided in the sources do not list any specific exhibitions dedicated to this portrait, indicating that it has remained in the museum’s permanent display rather than traveling to external shows.
Overview
This oil on canvas portrait, titled Mrs. Andrew Sigourney, was created by Gilbert Stuart around 1820. Stuart, a prominent American artist from the Rhode Island Colony, established himself as a leading figure in early American portraiture. His work is recognized for its ability to capture the likeness and character of his sitters, contributing significantly to the visual record of the era.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts Mrs. Andrew Sigourney seated in a formal pose, adorned in an elegant dress. Stuart focused on rendering her facial features and attire with precision, conveying a sense of calm seriousness. The artist aimed to reveal the sitter's individual personality through her expression, making the portrait more than a mere likeness but a study of character.
Context
Gilbert Stuart's career was largely dedicated to portraiture, establishing him as a sought-after artist among America's elite. He is particularly renowned for his numerous depictions of George Washington, including the iconic, though unfinished, Athenaeum Portrait. Mrs. Andrew Sigourney exemplifies Stuart's consistent skill in capturing the essence of individuals during the early republican period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gilbert Stuart (né Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists.
- Mrs. Robert Waterston (Hephzibah Lord)
Mrs. Joseph Warren Revere (Mary Robbins)
Mrs. Edward Hutchinson Robbins (Elizabeth Murray)
Mrs. Nathaniel West, Jr. (Mary White)
Portrait of Charlotte Story Forrester
Porträt der Princess Margaret Dolgorukaya
Anne Willing Bingham
Lydia Coit Terry (Mrs. Eliphalet Terry)
Mrs. Edward Kellogg
Catherine Yates Pollock (Mrs. George Pollock)
Mrs. Perez Morton (Sarah Wentworth Apthorp)
Ann Calvert Stuart Robinson (Mrs. William Robinson)