Artwork
The David Children
The David Children is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Thomas Sully. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: TS (in monogram) 18[--]
About this work
Technique & Style
The medium and support are consistent with Sully's standard practice for portraiture during this period.
Thomas Sully executed The David Children in 1826 using oil paint on canvas. The work measures 87 centimeters in height and 112.4 centimeters in width. As a portrait genre painting, it depicts the children of the David family.
The medium and support are consistent with Sully's standard practice for portraiture during this period. The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
History & Provenance
The painting The David Children by Thomas Sully is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. It entered the museum's collection through a bequest in 1963 from Chester Dale, who had acquired it from Albert Rosenthal in 1917; earlier owners included John Foster Jenkins and Cornelius Michaelsen. No accession number is provided in the available documentation.
Overview
Thomas Sully completed "The David Children," an oil on canvas painting, in 1826. This portrait captures two young individuals in a seemingly natural and relaxed pose. Sully, known for his portraiture, rendered this work with a focus on the subjects' presence, presenting a direct and unadorned depiction of the children.
Subject & Meaning
This painting presents two children seated together, conveying a sense of contentment and ease in each other's company. Their attire and posture suggest an ordinary, unpretentious moment, rather than a formal or ceremonial occasion. The composition emphasizes a direct portrayal, focusing solely on the subjects without additional narrative elements or elaborate surroundings.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Thomas Sully was an English-American portrait painter. He was born in England, became a naturalized American citizen in 1809, and lived most of his life in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, including in the Thomas Sully…
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