Artwork
Little Girl Holding Apple
Little Girl Holding Apple is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Sturtevant J. Hamblin. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Sturtevant J.
About this work
Technique & Style
Subtle glazing builds translucent shadows on the face and neck, while the apple's surface reflects light with crisp highlights.
The painting employs oil on canvas, executed in a smooth, tightly controlled manner typical of early American portraiture. The handling is precise, with careful modeling of the girl's features and drapery to render a lifelike presence. Subtle glazing builds translucent shadows on the face and neck, while the apple's surface reflects light with crisp highlights.
Compositionally, the figure is centered against a neutral background, emphasizing clarity and directness. The palette is restrained, relying on earthy browns, muted greens, and a single saturated red for the apple to focus attention. Brushwork remains largely invisible, reinforcing the portrait's polished, documentary character.
History & Provenance
Created in 1840, Little Girl Holding Apple is an oil on canvas portrait by Sturtevant J. Hamblin. The work was originally recorded as being from Connecticut, where it was held by a Connecticut owner before entering the collection of Robert Carlen in Philadelphia. It was sold in 1955 to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who gifted the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1978, where it remains part of the permanent collection.
Overview
Sturtevant J. Hamblin's "Little Girl Holding Apple," painted around 1840, is an oil on canvas portrait. This work captures a young subject, depicted with directness and a specific set of visual details that characterize the artist's approach to portraiture during the mid-19th century. The painting offers insight into the period's conventions for depicting children.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a girl, likely between four and six years old, positioned against a somber background. She wears an orange dress accented with green and white trim, her dark hair styled with two matching orange bows. Her direct gaze engages the viewer, while her hands delicately hold an apple and touch a nearby branch, elements that add a subtle narrative to her portrayal.
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