Artwork
Mrs. James Merrill Cook
Mrs. James Merrill Cook is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Nelson Cook. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
James Merrill Cook is a 1840 oil on canvas portrait that represents Anna Cady Cook, the wife of merchant James Merrill Cook.
The painting titled Mrs. James Merrill Cook is a 1840 oil on canvas portrait that represents Anna Cady Cook, the wife of merchant James Merrill Cook. As documented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art records, the work is classified within The American Wing and exemplifies the genre of portraiture, focusing on a single female sitter. The depiction emphasizes the subject’s social standing through conventional attire and composed posture, typical of early‑American portraiture that sought to convey familial respectability.
While the iconography is modest, the sitter’s identification as Anna Cady Cook links the image to a prominent New York family, underscoring the role of women as custodians of domestic virtue in the antebellum period.
Technique & Style
Mrs. James Merrill Cook is an oil on canvas portrait painted in 1840 by American artist Nelson Cook. The work measures approximately 122.2 cm in height by 62.2 cm in width and depicts the sitter Anna Cady Cook. Executed in oil paint on a stretched canvas support, the painting exemplifies mid‑nineteenth‑century American portraiture with a realistic rendering of the subject’s attire and expression.
Its formal composition features a muted palette, balanced lighting, and a straightforward pose typical of contemporary elite portraiture. The piece is housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflecting its recognized significance within the museum’s collection.
History & Provenance
The portrait titled Mrs. James Merrill Cook was created by the artist Nelson Cook in 1840. Executed in oil on canvas, the work depicts Anna Cady Cook, the subject identified as the main figure in the composition. The painting measures 122.2 centimeters in height and 62.2 centimeters in width.
It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within the American Wing. While the specific commission details or the exact chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation is firmly dated to the year 1840. The piece remains a significant example of mid-19th-century American portraiture within the museum's holdings.
Mrs. James Merrill Cook is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is part of the American Wing’s portrait collection. The painting is recorded in the museum’s catalogue as an oil on canvas work dating to 1840, created by Nelson Cook and depicting his wife, Anna Cady Cook. Its dimensions are 122.2 cm by 62.2 cm, and it is listed under the museum’s American Wing classification, though no specific accession or inventory number is provided in the available documentation. Exhibition records for the piece are not detailed in the sources consulted.
Overview
Nelson Cook's oil on canvas portrait, Mrs. James Merrill Cook, dates from 1840. This work depicts a woman, the eponymous Mrs. Cook, rendered with a direct gaze. As a representative example of American portraiture from the mid-19th century, it offers insight into the period's artistic conventions and the presentation of individuals. The painting is executed in oil on canvas.
Context
Created in 1840, this portrait reflects the prevailing trends in American art during the antebellum period, where portraiture served as a significant genre for documenting individuals and families. The painting's inclusion in a collection dedicated to American art underscores its relevance as a historical and artistic document from this era, showcasing the work of a regional artist.
Artist & collection
