Artwork
Mrs. Daniel DeSaussure Bacot
Mrs. Daniel DeSaussure Bacot is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Samuel Finley Breese Morse. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Samuel F.
About this work
Technique & Style
The artist renders the sitter’s lace collar, necklace, and shawl with meticulous brushwork, indicating a careful handling of texture and light.
The painting is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a medium typical of Morse’s early work. The artist renders the sitter’s lace collar, necklace, and shawl with meticulous brushwork, indicating a careful handling of texture and light. These details contribute to a formal portrait style that emphasizes the woman’s attire and genteel presence, characteristic of American portraiture in the 1820s. No information on the painting’s current condition is provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
Samuel F. B. Morse executed the portrait Mrs. Daniel DeSaussure Bacot in 1820 using oil on canvas. The painting measures 76.2 cm by 62.9 cm and portrays the subject in lace, a necklace, and a shawl. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within the museum's American Wing.
The sources confirm its location and institutional ownership but do not provide a specific accession number, nor do they document any exhibition history or loans for the work.
Overview
Samuel F. B. Morse's oil on canvas portrait depicts Mrs. Daniel DeSaussure Bacot, a work housed within the American Wing collection. The painting presents a woman in a dark gown, adorned with a delicate lace shawl draped over her shoulders. A slender gold chain, featuring a single pearl, rests at her neck. Her expression conveys a sense of calm, with a composed and steady gaze directed outward.
Context
Samuel F. B. Morse, though primarily recognized for his scientific innovations, particularly the invention of the telegraph, was also an accomplished painter. This portrait was completed only a few years prior to his groundbreaking work in communication technology. While his scientific contributions ultimately overshadowed his artistic career, this painting exemplifies his dedication to the visual arts during an earlier phase of his professional life.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an American inventor and painter.
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