Artwork
Hannah Wentworth Atkinson
Hannah Wentworth Atkinson is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Joseph Blackburn. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
Currently, the painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is identified by the accession number 1919.
Joseph Blackburn created the oil-on-canvas portrait of Hannah Wentworth Atkinson in 1760 within the United States. The work was executed using oil paint on a canvas support, measuring 124.7 cm in height and 99.3 cm in width. Currently, the painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is identified by the accession number 1919.1005.
The specific circumstances regarding the original commission, the identity of the initial patron, or the detailed chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not documented in the available records.
Held at the Cleveland Museum of Art, this oil on canvas painting was accessioned under the identifier 1919.1005. It has been part of the museum’s collection since its acquisition and was featured in the exhibition "American Paintings from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries," displayed at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1995.
Overview
Created in 1760 by the English artist Joseph Blackburn, this oil portrait presents Hannah Wentworth Atkinson. The work is part of Blackburn’s series of North‑American sitters and is now owned by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown seated, wearing a refined gray gown with a low neckline accented by blue ribbon trim. She holds a pink blossom in her right hand while her left hand rests on her knee, suggesting a poised yet intimate moment.
Technique & Style
Executed in a Rococo idiom, the painting employs a dark backdrop that isolates the figure, allowing the delicate folds of the dress and the luminous skin to dominate. Blackburn’s brushwork is notably smooth, especially in rendering flesh tones and fabric texture, while the lighting creates a subtle chiaroscuro effect that highlights the face and hands.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Blackburn (died 1787) was an English painter who worked mainly in British North America. His notable works include portraits of Hugh Jones (circa 1777) and Colonel Theodore Atkinson (circa 1760).
