Artwork
His First Model-Miss Russell
His First Model-Miss Russell is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist William Morris Hunt. It dates from 1873 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
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Subject & Meaning
The piece thus serves both as a record of the model's appearance and as an early expression of Hunt's interest in capturing youthful presence.
The painting titled His First Model‑Miss Russell, completed by William Morris Hunt in 1873, is an oil on canvas portrait that depicts a young woman identified as Miss Russell, the artist's first professional model. As a portrait, the work functions to represent the sitter, emphasizing her status as an emerging muse within Hunt's early career. The composition and realistic rendering typical of Hunt's genre suggest a focus on naturalistic likeness rather than allegorical symbolism, reflecting the academic conventions of American portraiture in the 1870s.
The piece thus serves both as a record of the model's appearance and as an early expression of Hunt's interest in capturing youthful presence.
Technique & Style
Created in 1873, His First Model-Miss Russell is an oil-on-canvas portrait by William Morris Hunt. The work is executed on a canvas support, a standard medium for the artist's portraiture during this period. Measuring 61.0 cm in height and 38.4 cm in width, the painting depicts a female subject.
As an oil painting, the medium allows for the layered brushwork and tonal modeling characteristic of Hunt's style in the late 19th century. The piece is classified as a portrait genre work, focusing on the representation of an individual. It was produced in the United States and is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
His First Model was painted by William Morris Hunt in 1873, executed in oil on canvas and measuring 61.0 by 38.4 centimetres. The work was produced in the United States during the final years of Hunt's career, shortly before his death in 1879. The painting entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 1928.581, indicating that it was accessioned by that institution in 1928.
No information is available regarding the original commissioner, prior ownership, or intermediate provenance between the work's creation in 1873 and its acquisition by the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1928.
Overview
William Morris Hunt, a prominent American painter, created His First Model, Miss Russell in 1873. This oil painting captures a woman in a portrait, reflecting the artist's skill cultivated after his training in Paris. The work is now part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a significant piece from his oeuvre. Hunt was recognized as a leading artist in Boston, particularly for his portraits and landscapes.
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Artist & collection
Artist
William Morris Hunt (March 31, 1824 – September 8, 1879) was an American painter.
