Artwork
Lady in a White Mob Cap
Lady in a White Mob Cap is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Benjamin Greenleaf. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The application of oil paint on a woven canvas support reflects standard practices for American portraiture of the early nineteenth century.
Executed in 1805, this portrait is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 36.5 cm in height and 26.7 cm in width. As a genre portrait, the piece focuses on the depiction of a female subject distinguished by her white mob cap.
The application of oil paint on a woven canvas support reflects standard practices for American portraiture of the early nineteenth century. The composition centers on the figure, utilizing the medium to render the textures of the clothing and headwear.
History & Provenance
Benjamin Greenleaf created the oil-on-canvas portrait titled Lady in a White Mob Cap in 1805. The work was originally recorded as being from Philadelphia before entering the private collection of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who purchased it in 1956. Two years later, the Garbisch family donated the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it has remained in the collection since 1959. It is cataloged under the accession number 1959.9.1.
Overview
Benjamin Greenleaf’s oil portrait, titled Lady in a White Mob Cap, dates to approximately 1805. Executed on canvas, the work presents a solitary figure rendered in muted tones against a dark backdrop, emphasizing the sitter’s quiet presence. The composition is limited to a side view, focusing attention on the subject’s attire and demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a woman seen in profile, her gaze directed downward, suggesting introspection or modesty. She wears a white mob cap edged with a gray ribbon and a brown dress accented by a white collar. The restrained expression and simple dress convey a sense of domestic respectability typical of early‑19th‑century portraiture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
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