Artwork
Eliza R. Read
Eliza R. Read is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Royall Brewster Smith. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This oil on canvas painting, titled Eliza R.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:center right: ELIZA R. READ / BORN FEB' 19. 1811. / PAINTED OCT'1833.
About this work
Technique & Style
Eliza R. Read is executed in oil paint on a canvas support, a medium indicated as oil on canvas. The work dates to 1833 and measures approximately 79.7 cm in height and 64.6 cm in width. As a portrait, the painting presents the sitter in a straightforward, likeness‑focused composition typical of early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.
History & Provenance
The painting was originally recorded as coming from New York prior to its sale to the Garbisch couple.
Royall Brewster Smith executed this oil-on-canvas portrait of Eliza R. Read in 1833. The work's documented history traces back to New York, where it was held by the Old Print Shop. In 1954, the gallery sold the painting to collectors Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
The couple subsequently donated the piece to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1978, where it remains in the collection.
The portrait of Eliza R. Read is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It was acquired by the museum in 1978 as a gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who had purchased the work in 1954 from the Old Print Shop in New York. The painting was originally recorded as coming from New York prior to its sale to the Garbisch couple.
No specific inventory or accession numbers are provided in the available sources. The sources do not record any exhibition history for the work.
Context
The 1833 oil on canvas portrait by Royall Brewster Smith portrays Eliza R. Read and serves as a representative example of early American portraiture. Measuring 79.7 cm by 64.6 cm, the work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection in Washington, D.C. Its acquisition history traces back to a 1954 sale by the Old Print Shop of New York to Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who donated the piece to the museum in 1978.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting, titled Eliza R. Read, was created by Royall Brewster Smith in 1833. It presents a formal portrait of a woman, likely the namesake Eliza R. Read. The work exemplifies the prevalent portraiture styles of the early 19th century, capturing the sitter's likeness with a direct and composed presentation.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait features a woman seated, her right hand resting gently on a white cloth. She is depicted in a dark gown, distinguished by intricate lace details and a coordinating lace veil that frames her face. Elegant gold jewelry, including a necklace and earrings, complements her attire.
Her gaze is directed forward, conveying a neutral and composed demeanor, characteristic of formal portraiture of the era.
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