Miss Nelly O'Brien
1771
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1771
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Miss Nelly O'Brien is a 1771 ink by Samuel Okey, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a woman holding a small dog. She wears a wide-brimmed hat, a pearl necklace, and a fancy dress with ruffles. The background looks like a dark, leafy garden with blurry shapes that might be trees or people. The artist used shading to make the woman’s face and dress stand out sharply against the dark background. This was a common way to draw attention to the subject. Look up chiaroscuro to learn more about this dramatic lighting technique.
Your cart is empty
Explore artworks →
