Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Moses B. Russell. It dates from 1847 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Moses B.
About this work
Technique & Style
The piece belongs to The American Wing's collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is classified as a portrait that depicts a woman holding a book.
The work titled Portrait of a Lady, painted by Moses B. Russell in 1847, is executed in watercolor on a thin ivory support. Its dimensions measure 12.2 cm in height by 9.4 cm in width. The piece belongs to The American Wing's collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is classified as a portrait that depicts a woman holding a book. It is catalogued in the museum's records as accession number 2006.235.295.
History & Provenance
Created in 1847, the watercolor on ivory titled Portrait of a Lady was executed by the American artist Moses B. Russell. The work depicts a woman holding a book and measures 12.2 by 9.4 centimeters. While the specific commission details and the original owner remain unrecorded in the available documentation, the painting's provenance leads to its acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The museum holds the piece within its American Wing collection, cataloging it under the accession number 2006.235.295. This entry confirms the work's creation date and attributes it definitively to Russell, establishing its place in the institution's holdings of 19th-century American portraiture.
Overview
Moses B. Russell's "Portrait of a Lady," created in 1847, is a watercolor on ivory. This intimate depiction portrays a woman seated, holding a book, characterized by its small scale and delicate execution. It offers a glimpse into American portraiture of the mid-19th century, distinguishing itself from the larger oil paintings common at the time.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of this portrait is a woman, rendered with a pale complexion and tightly pulled-back hair. She is depicted in a dark dress, seated and holding a book, with a thin gold chain visible at her neck. The composition suggests a moment of quiet contemplation, inviting a private engagement with the sitter's demeanor.
Context
In an era when large-scale oil portraits on canvas were prevalent, "Portrait of a Lady" stands apart due to its modest size and medium. The choice of watercolor on ivory lends the piece a private, almost personal character, suggesting it was intended for close, individual appreciation rather than public display. It represents a distinct facet of 19th-century American portraiture.
Artist & collection
