Artwork
Mrs. Joseph Anthony Jr. (Henrietta Hillegas)
Mrs. Joseph Anthony Jr. (Henrietta Hillegas) is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Gilbert Stuart. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1795, this portrait by Gilbert Stuart utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support.
Executed in 1795, this portrait by Gilbert Stuart utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 76.2 cm in height and 59.4 cm in width, conforming to standard dimensions for a bust-length or half-length figure. As a formal portrait of a woman, the piece exemplifies Stuart's approach to the genre during the late eighteenth century, focusing on the depiction of the sitter through the specific handling of oil media.
The classification within the American Wing underscores its significance as an example of early American portraiture, where the artist's technique prioritizes the realistic rendering of the subject's features and attire within the constraints of the chosen materials.
History & Provenance
Mrs. Joseph Anthony Jr. (Henrietta Hillegas) is an oil-on-canvas portrait by Gilbert Stuart dated 1795. The work entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection and is catalogued within The American Wing. No information regarding the original commission, the sitter's family, or the chain of ownership prior to the museum's acquisition is documented in the available sources.
Likewise, the specific circumstances of its creation, intermediate owners, and acquisition date by the Metropolitan Museum of Art are not recorded in the provided material.
Gilbert Stuart's 1795 portrait, Mrs. Joseph Anthony Jr. (Henrietta Hillegas), is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work is classified within the museum's American Wing. While specific accession numbers are not provided in the available records, the painting is cataloged as an oil on canvas measuring 76.2 cm in height and 59.4 cm in width.
The provided sources do not contain details regarding a specific inventory number or a history of public exhibitions for this artwork.
Overview
Painted by Gilbert Stuart around 1796, Mrs. Joseph Anthony Jr. (Henrietta Hillegas) is an oil on canvas portrait. Stuart, a leading American artist from the Rhode Island Colony, created this work during a period when his reputation for capturing accurate likenesses of prominent individuals was well-established. The painting serves as a significant example of American portraiture from the late eighteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait features Henrietta Hillegas, identified by her husband's name, Joseph Anthony Jr., a common titling convention for women's portraits of the era. She is depicted seated, adorned in formal attire, presenting a calm and composed expression. The artist meticulously rendered the details of her dress and the chair, contributing to the work's overall formal composition and reflecting the period's aesthetic preferences.
Context
This artwork fits within the broader tradition of American portraiture during the late 1700s. At this time, Gilbert Stuart, originally from the Rhode Island Colony, had already secured his position as a highly regarded painter of notable figures. The piece reflects the demand for formal representations that conveyed status and presence in the burgeoning United States.
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.
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