Artwork
Mrs. Charles Cummings (Rebecca Pittard)
Mrs. Charles Cummings (Rebecca Pittard) is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Henry Inman. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Rebecca Pittard left Bristol, England, for New York in 1803 and married Charles Fox Cadby Cummings, a relative of the miniature painter Thomas Seir Cummings, who trained under Henry Inman and became his partner. Around 1825, Inman painted her in oil with the fine precision of a former miniaturist. The portrait now hangs in Gallery 774 of the Met.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait thus represents not merely a likeness but a visual statement of identity and class within the cultural norms of the period.
The work depicts Rebecca Pittard, identified as Mrs. Charles Cummings, in a formal portrait typical of early 19th-century American portraiture. The sitter is portrayed with fashion accessories including a cap, ribbon, bow, fichu, shawl, lace, and earrings. These items not only document contemporary dress but also signify the subject's social status and domestic respectability.
The portrait thus represents not merely a likeness but a visual statement of identity and class within the cultural norms of the period.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil on canvas, this portrait measures 76.2 by 63.5 cm. Henry Inman depicts Rebecca Pittard with meticulous attention to her accessories, a cap, ribbon, bow, lace fichu, shawl, and earrings, reflecting the sitter's refined social status. The careful rendering of textiles and jewelry demonstrates Inman's skill in capturing texture and light, characteristic of early 19th-century American portraiture.
Overview
This oil portrait, painted by Henry Inman around 1825, depicts Rebecca Pittard, an English immigrant whose family connections placed her within New York's burgeoning art community. The work captures a significant moment in Inman's career as he transitioned from miniature painting to larger-scale oil works, demonstrating his evolving skill. Now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, the painting serves as both a record of its sitter and a testament to the artist's developing practice.
Context
This portrait was created during a formative period for Henry Inman, as he moved from miniature painting to establish himself as a leading oil portraitist in New York. As a co-founder of the National Academy of Design, Inman played a crucial role in shaping the city's artistic landscape. The painting therefore not only presents a likeness of its subject but also embodies the ambitions of an artist at the forefront of American art in the early 19th century.
History & Provenance
The Metropolitan Museum of Art acquired this portrait, measuring 30 by 25 inches, in 2008. Its acquisition was made possible through funds from the Maria DeWitt Jesup Fund. The artwork is currently displayed within Gallery 774 of the museum's American Wing, where it offers visitors insight into both the life of an immigrant woman connected to the art world and the evolving career of a significant American painter.
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Artist & collection
- Mrs. Pearson [possibly Sarah Thompson Pearson]
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