Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting by the American Impressionist artist Thomas Sully. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work titled Portrait of a Lady, executed by Thomas Sully in 1843, is a watercolor on ivory that belongs to the portrait genre within the American Wing’s collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition portrays a young woman rendered in a conventional, genteel manner typical of early‑mid‑19th‑century American portraiture, emphasizing poise and refinement. The subject is identified simply as a woman, reflecting the sitter’s status as a lady of the period without additional iconographic attributes or symbolic elements documented in the available records.
Technique & Style
Sully’s handling is delicate and precise, with fine, controlled brushstrokes employed to render the woman’s features, lace detailing, and soft curls.
Thomas Sully’s Portrait of a Lady (1843) is a watercolor executed on ivory, a support characteristic of miniature portraiture during the early nineteenth century. The ivory’s translucency allows light to reflect subtly through the pigment, enhancing the luminosity of the subject’s complexion. Sully’s handling is delicate and precise, with fine, controlled brushstrokes employed to render the woman’s features, lace detailing, and soft curls.
The medium’s fluidity enables smooth gradations of tone, particularly evident in the flesh tones and the delicate folds of the dress. Measuring 7.9 by 6.5 centimeters, the work exhibits a refined, intimate scale. Stylistically, the portrait aligns with Sully’s Romantic-inflected approach, emphasizing idealized beauty, soft modeling, and a restrained yet expressive palette.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Lady, a watercolor on ivory depicting a woman, was created by Thomas Sully in 1843. Measuring 7.9 inches in height and 6.5 inches in width, the work is classified as a portrait within the American genre. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
While the specific commission details and the identity of the original patron are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation date is firmly established as 1843. The artwork remains part of the museum's permanent holdings, categorized under the American Wing.
The watercolor on ivory titled Portrait of a Lady, created by Thomas Sully in 1843, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Within the museum's structure, the work is classified under the American Wing. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available documentation, the piece is cataloged with dimensions of 7.9 inches in height and 6.5 inches in width.
The provided sources do not contain any details regarding the artwork's exhibition history or a chronological list of public displays. Consequently, the known institutional location is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the permanent collection dedicated to American art from the specified period.
Context
Thomas Sully painted Portrait of a Lady in 1843, a watercolor on ivory that exemplifies early American neoclassical portraiture. The work depicts a young woman and is housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed in the museum’s collection and described in Wikidata as a painting by Sully (inception 1843). Its inclusion in this major American art collection reflects its recognized importance in the development of United States portraiture and in Sully’s oeuvre.
Overview
Thomas Sully's "Portrait of a Lady," created around 1843, is a small-scale work rendered in watercolor on ivory. This intimate depiction captures the likeness of an unidentified woman, showcasing the artist's refined approach to portraiture during the mid-19th century in America.
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…
