Mrs. Nathaniel Ellery (Ann Sargent)

About this work

This portrait painting shows a woman sitting in a chair, holding a book. She is dressed in a formal, old-fashioned outfit with a head covering and a floral patterned shawl. The background is a solid, muted color. The woman's expression is calm and serious, and her gaze is directed straight ahead. The painting is done in a realistic style, with attention to detail in the folds of her clothing and the texture of the book. The artist's use of chiaroscuro, a technique that uses strong contrasts of light and dark to create a sense of volume and depth, adds depth and dimension to the painting. If you want to learn more about this technique, look up chiaroscuro.