Artwork
Brothers
Brothers is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Susan Waters. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Susan C.
About this work
Technique & Style
The formal qualities emphasize clarity and symmetry, with understated lighting that models the subjects' forms without dramatic contrast.
Brothers is an oil painting on a canvas support measuring 111.7 cm in height and 88.8 cm in width. The handling is characterized by a smooth, controlled application of paint typical of academic portraiture of the mid-19th century, with careful attention to the delineation of facial features and costume details. The composition centers on two figures arranged in a quiet, frontal pose, their expressions rendered with restrained realism.
The formal qualities emphasize clarity and symmetry, with understated lighting that models the subjects' forms without dramatic contrast. The palette is subdued, relying on earth tones and muted hues to convey a sense of earnestness and familial intimacy.
History & Provenance
Susan C. Waters executed the oil painting Brothers in 1845. The work is documented as originating from central New York State. Its modern ownership history begins with its acquisition in 1952 by collectors Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
Four years later, in 1956, the Garbisches donated the canvas to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains part of the permanent collection.
The painting is held by the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., where it is recorded as accessioned under object number 1956.1.1. It was previously in the collection of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who purchased it in 1952 and later donated it to the National Gallery of Art in 1956.
No exhibition history is documented in the cited sources.
Overview
Susan C. Waters’ oil on canvas, dated around 1845, depicts a quiet outdoor scene featuring two young boys. The work captures a moment of informal play, with the figures seated on the ground amid simple props that suggest a domestic or rural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers on the two children, both dressed in dark jackets, blue trousers, white collars, and black ties. One boy clutches a branch bearing red berries and a black cat, while the other holds an orange, hinting at themes of innocence, curiosity, and the everyday pleasures of childhood.
Context
Created in the mid‑19th century, the work reflects Romanticism’s interest in individual experience and the emotive potential of ordinary scenes. Waters’ focus on youthful subjects and a tranquil outdoor setting mirrors the period’s fascination with nature and personal sentiment.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Susan Catherine Moore Waters (May 18, 1823 – July 7, 1900) was an American painter.
