Artwork
Mary Cadwalader Rawle
Mary Cadwalader Rawle is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist William Oliver Stone. It dates from 1868 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in oil on canvas, the work was created by William Oliver Stone and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's The American Wing.
The painting titled "Mary Cadwalader Rawle" (1868) portrays the eponymous American social figure in a conventional portrait format. Executed in oil on canvas, the work was created by William Oliver Stone and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's The American Wing. Its subject, Mary Cadwalader Rawle, is identified as a woman, reflecting the genre of portraiture that emphasizes individual identity and social standing in the late nineteenth‑century United States.
The composition aligns with contemporary portrait conventions, presenting the sitter in a dignified manner without additional iconographic or symbolic elements noted in the documentation.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on canvas, a support typical of mid‑nineteenth‑century portraiture, as indicated by the recorded medium and material designations. Its dimensions measure approximately 30.5 cm by 26.7 cm, corresponding to the size noted in the catalog entry. The painting belongs to the portrait genre and portrays a woman, reflecting the sitter’s status as Mary Cadwalader Rawle.
The execution employs oil paint applied to a canvas support, a technique documented in both the institutional record and the artwork’s descriptive metadata. No further details regarding handling, condition, or stylistic analysis are provided in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Mary Cadwalader Rawle is an oil-on-canvas portrait painted by William Oliver Stone in 1868. The work is classified within The American Wing and currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is held on view. The painting measures 30.5 by 26.7 centimeters.
No information regarding the original commission, sitter relationship, or intermediate ownership transfers prior to its acquisition by the Metropolitan Museum of Art is documented in the available sources.
The portrait of Mary Cadwalader Rawle, painted by William Oliver Stone in 1868, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Classified under the American Wing, the work is an oil-on-canvas portrait measuring 30.5 by 26.7 centimeters. While the source data confirms its current location and physical dimensions within the museum's holdings, the provided texts do not specify an accession or inventory number for the piece.
Furthermore, the available documentation contains no record of the painting's exhibition history, leaving its public display timeline unverified within these sources.
Legacy
Mary Cadwalader Rawle, painted by William Oliver Stone in 1868, is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of The American Wing, where it is displayed as a representative example of 19th‑century American portraiture. Its inclusion in the museum’s permanent collection has allowed scholars and visitors to study the depiction of elite women in post‑Civil War America, positioning the work as a visual record of social status and gender expectations of the era. The painting’s provenance, documented through its acquisition by the Met, underscores its significance within institutional narratives of American art, contributing to ongoing reassessments of women’s representation in 19th‑century portraiture.
Overview
William Oliver Stone completed this oil on canvas portrait, Mary Cadwalader Rawle, in 1868. The painting exemplifies the realist approach to portraiture prevalent during the period. Stone, an American artist born in 1830, established a notable career in New York, specializing in capturing individual likenesses. This work presents its subject with a directness characteristic of his style.
Context
William Oliver Stone developed his artistic skills studying under Nathaniel Jocelyn before establishing his practice in New York. His career progressed significantly, leading to his election as an associate and later a full member of the prestigious National Academy of Design. This portrait reflects his standing as a respected American painter within the city's artistic circles during the latter half of the 19th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Oliver Stone (September 26, 1830 – September 15, 1875) was an American portrait painter.
