Artwork
Henry L. Wells
Henry L. Wells 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. This painting, titled Henry L.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:on reverse (no longer visible, photograph in object file [1955.11.8] in NGA curatorial records): Henry L Wells / Ages 2 1/2 Years / Aug 1845
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a 19th‑century portrait, it functions as a visual record of the subject’s appearance and social standing, emphasizing realism over allegorical symbolism.
The painting portrays a male sitter identified as Henry L. Wells, rendered in oil on canvas in 1845. As a 19th‑century portrait, it functions as a visual record of the subject’s appearance and social standing, emphasizing realism over allegorical symbolism. The work lacks overt iconographic attributes, suggesting that its meaning resides in the direct representation of the individual rather than narrative or symbolic content.
Executed by Susan C. Waters, the piece exemplifies the genre of portraiture within the National Gallery of Art’s collection, where it has been part of the institution’s holdings since a 1955 gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
Technique & Style
The portrait by Susan C. Waters is executed in oil on canvas and measures 115 cm in height by 72 cm in width. The handling reflects mid-19th-century American portrait conventions, with smooth modeling of the sitter’s features and controlled brushwork to articulate costume and accessories. The composition centers on the figure against a neutral ground, emphasizing clarity and restraint in line and form.
Stylistically, the work aligns with antebellum portraiture, prioritizing likeness and decorum over dramatic effect. The condition is not addressed in the cited sources, though institutional records indicate the painting entered the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1955 as a gift from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch.
History & Provenance
Susan C. Waters executed this oil on canvas portrait in 1845. The work is recorded as originating from Massachusetts. In 1949, Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch purchased the painting. They subsequently donated the piece to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1955, where it remains in the collection.
The painting is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Its ownership history traces back to Massachusetts before it was purchased in 1949 by Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. The couple subsequently gifted the work to the National Gallery of Art in 1955. The provided records do not list specific inventory accession numbers or detail any public exhibition history for this piece.
Overview
This painting, titled Henry L. Wells, is an oil on canvas portrait created by Susan C. Waters in 1845. It presents a young individual within a natural setting, a common theme in portraiture of the mid-19th century. The artwork demonstrates Waters's capacity to render both human figures and animal companions with attention to detail.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Susan Catherine Moore Waters (May 18, 1823 – July 7, 1900) was an American painter.
