Ann Biddle Hopkinson (Mrs. Francis Hopkinson)

The portrait of Ann Biddle Hopkinson was executed by Thomas Sully in 1834, as recorded in contemporary documentation and confirmed by the work’s provenance. After its creation, the painting remained in the Hopkinson family, passing to the sitter’s daughter Emily Hopkinson Scovel and subsequently to her daughter Florence Scovel Shinn in New York. In 1918 it was acquired by Thomas B. Clarke, who later bequeathed it to his estate; the work was sold from the Clarke collection in 1936 through M. Knoedler & Co. to the A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, and finally gifted to the National Gallery of Art in 1942. The dating of 1834 is corroborated by cataloguing records and the National Gallery’s collection data.

The portrait is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., accessioned as 1942.8.32. It entered the collection in 1942 as a gift from The A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, having been purchased in 1936 through M. Knoedler & Co. from the Thomas B. Clarke collection sale. No exhibition history prior to 1918 is recorded; the painting was exhibited in 1918 at the Thomas B. Clarke Galleries, New York, as part of the Clarke collection.

The 1834 portrait of Ann Biddle Hopkinson by Thomas Sully has come to symbolize the artist’s role in shaping early American portraiture, a reputation reinforced by its inclusion in the National Gallery of Art’s collection. Acquired in 1942 from the Clarke estate via the Andrew W. Mellon trust, the work reflects a documented chain of ownership that highlights its perceived significance among collectors. Its presence in major scholarly references, including catalogues of the 1928 Clarke exhibition and contemporary Wikidata entries, underscores sustained academic interest.

As a well‑preserved example of Sully’s technique and a representation of a notable Federal‑era figure, the painting continues to inform studies of 19th‑century American art.

Thomas Sully created this oil on canvas portrait of Ann Biddle Hopkinson in 1834. The artwork captures Mrs. Hopkinson, presenting her seated and directly engaging the viewer. As a prominent American portraitist, Sully often depicted notable figures of his era, and this piece exemplifies his approach to formal portraiture, emphasizing both the sitter's presence and the refined details of her attire.

The portrait centers on Ann Biddle Hopkinson, depicted seated and gazing directly forward, creating an immediate connection with the observer. Her elaborate dress and hat, rendered with meticulous attention to fabric and ornamentation, suggest her social standing. By emphasizing her face and the intricate elements of her attire, Sully conveys the sitter's significance, perhaps reflecting a personal or professional connection between the artist and Mrs. Hopkinson.