Carmelita Requena

Thomas Eakins painted Carmelita Requena in 1869, executing the work in oil on canvas. The portrait, classified as a genre portrait depicting a girl, measures 53.3 × 43.2 cm. Its creation history is documented through Eakins’s practice of naturalistic figuration during the late 19th‑century American art movement. Since its execution, the painting has been part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and remains on view in The American Wing.

The work’s provenance is therefore traced to its acquisition by the museum, with no recorded private ownership prior to institutional accession.

Thomas Eakins completed Carmelita Requena in 1869, an oil on canvas portrait that exemplifies his realist approach to American subject matter. The painting is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is categorized within The American Wing’s portrait genre, reflecting the institutional emphasis on 19th‑century American art. Its depiction of a young girl aligns with contemporary interests in intimate, domestic imagery, while its inclusion in major scholarly surveys of Eakins underscores its significance in the development of American portraiture.

Documentation in Wikidata records the work’s dimensions, materials, and provenance, situating it firmly within the canon of American realist painting.

Thomas Eakins, a prominent American realist, completed the oil on canvas portrait Carmelita Requena in 1869. This early work exemplifies his dedication to depicting individuals directly from life, a hallmark of his artistic practice. The painting features a young girl seated, rendered with a quiet intensity that invites contemplation of her inner state. It stands as an early testament to Eakins' commitment to unvarnished observation.