Artwork
An Interesting Story (Miss Ray)
An Interesting Story (Miss Ray) is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist William Wood. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The visual narrative is stripped of extraneous background details, emphasizing the personal and internal nature of the story being consumed by the sitter.
Painted by William Wood in 1806, this work depicts a woman, identified in the title as Miss Ray, captured in profile while engaged in reading a book. The composition's iconography is defined by this solitary act of literacy, focusing entirely on the figure and the text she holds. By portraying the subject absorbed in study, the painting represents the intellectual engagement and quiet contemplation associated with reading during the early nineteenth century.
The visual narrative is stripped of extraneous background details, emphasizing the personal and internal nature of the story being consumed by the sitter.
History & Provenance
The painting An Interesting Story (Miss Ray) was created in 1806 by the British artist William Wood, as recorded in contemporary documentation and confirmed by catalogue entries. Its dimensions are 119 cm by 97 cm, matching the specifications listed for the work. The piece is presently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which lists it as part of its collection and provides the only documented provenance in the available sources; no earlier owners or transaction details are cited.
The work's creation history is thus anchored to the year 1806 and the artist's practice, while its current ownership rests with the museum.
Context
William Wood's 1806 painting An Interesting Story (Miss Ray) exemplifies early nineteenth-century narrative portraiture that merges portrait conventions with a literary scene of a woman reading. The work is recorded as a painting in contemporary documentation and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which lists it among its holdings. Its composition, featuring a profile view and a book, reflects the period's interest in moral and instructive subjects, while its dimensions (approximately 119 × 97 cm) and placement within the museum's collection illustrate its significance within the artist's oeuvre and the broader development of genre painting in the early 1800s.
Overview
William Wood's painting, An Interesting Story (Miss Ray), created in 1806, portrays a woman engrossed in a book. The work is characterized by its intimate depiction of a solitary figure in contemplation. This oil painting is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it offers a glimpse into early 19th-century portraiture and the theme of personal reflection.
Technique & Style
Wood employs a focused composition, presenting the woman in a simple white dress with puffy sleeves against a plain, muted background. This deliberate simplicity ensures the viewer's attention remains on the figure and her introspective state. The subtle interplay of light and shadow, often referred to as chiaroscuro, sculpts her form and highlights her pensive expression, enhancing the sense of quiet contemplation within the scene.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
- Mrs. Richard Alexander Oswald (Louisa Johnston, ?born about 1760, died 1797)
Maria De Wolf (Mrs. Robert Rogers)
Mme. Dufresne
Mrs. Richard Peters (Abigail Willing)
A Young Woman Leaning on the Edge of a Window
Isabella Wolff
Susannah Edith, Lady Rowley
Mrs. Jens Wolff
Unknown woman
Engel Christina Westphalen, née Axen (1758–1840)
Profile of a Young Woman's Head
Portrait of Gertrud Hage, née Heitmann