Artwork
The Sisters
The Sisters is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Gari Melchers. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower right: Gari Melchers.
About this work
Technique & Style
As an oil-on-canvas painting, the piece adheres to traditional academic handling methods typical of the late 19th century.
Gari Melchers executed The Sisters in 1895 using oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work measures 150 cm in height and 100.4 cm in width, presenting a substantial format for a genre scene. As an oil-on-canvas painting, the piece adheres to traditional academic handling methods typical of the late 19th century.
The medium allows for the nuanced rendering of figures and textures characteristic of Melchers' style during this period.
History & Provenance
The Sisters is an oil on canvas painting executed in 1895 by American artist Gari Melchers. The work entered the collection of Hugo Reisinger of New York, who owned it by 1908; it subsequently passed to his wife Edmée Busch Reisinger, and then to their son Curt H. Reisinger, who died in 1964. In 1957 the painting was given to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains on view. Its dimensions are 150 cm by 100.4 cm.
The Sisters is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, having entered the museum's holdings in 1957 as a gift from Curt H. Reisinger. Its provenance traces back to Hugo Reisinger of New York, who owned the painting by 1908, then to his wife, Edmée Busch Reisinger, and subsequently to their son, Curt, before its donation to the institution.
Legacy
The Sisters entered the National Gallery of Art in 1957 as a gift from Curt H. Reisinger, completing a lineage that traced the work from the Reisinger family in New York to the nation's premier art museum. Since its acquisition, the painting has remained part of the NGA's American genre painting holdings, where it continues to be exhibited and studied as an example of Gari Melchers' turn-of-century realist style. Its long-term presence in the institution underscores its enduring reputation within American art history.
Overview
Gari Melchers completed The Sisters, an oil painting, around 1895. This work exemplifies a genre scene, portraying two young girls situated within a pastoral landscape. The canvas captures a moment of quiet observation, reflecting the artist's interest in depicting everyday life and the simple presence of his subjects.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features two girls standing in a field. The figure on the right wears an orange dress and dark boots, while her companion on the left is attired in a green skirt adorned with purple flowers and a striped top, holding a doll. In the distance, scattered houses and grazing cows contribute to a tranquil rural backdrop, suggesting a scene of childhood and domesticity.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Julius Garibaldi (Gari) Melchers (August 11, 1860 – November 30, 1932) was an American artist. He was one of the leading American proponents of naturalism. He won a 1932 Gold medal from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
