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Violet by Fuller, George

Fuller, George · 1882

Painted in 1882, George Fuller's 'Violet' is a moving portrait of a young girl, notable not just for its quiet beauty but for the dramatic story of its sale. This oil on canvas, housed in a private collection, became famous posthumously, securing Fuller's legacy and his family's financial future.

Notice the girl's averted blue eyes and her light brown hair, which are delicately rendered against a solid, dark background. Her dark dress, accented by a white lace collar, contributes to the painting's contemplative atmosphere.

Fuller, an American artist, tragically died in 1884, leaving his family in financial distress. A posthumous exhibition was organized to sell his works. 'Violet' became the star, selling for an astounding $6,000, a record price for a living or recently deceased American artist at the time. This sale helped alleviate his family's hardship.

The painting's quiet demeanor belies the powerful impact it had, ensuring Fuller's place in American art history. What do you see in her expression?

Details

She wears a dark dress with a delicate white lace collar.
She wears a dark dress with a delicate white lace collar.
A posthumous exhibition made his work, and this portrait, famous.
A posthumous exhibition made his work, and this portrait, famous.
This inscription, likely a signature and date, grounds the artwork in a specific time and place.
This inscription, likely a signature and date, grounds the artwork in a specific time and place.
The deep, dark background isolates the subject, enhancing the portrait's intimacy and focus.
The deep, dark background isolates the subject, enhancing the portrait's intimacy and focus.
Transcript

This quiet portrait, titled 'Violet', was painted in 1882. Her blue eyes, though averted, draw you into her world. She wears a dark dress with a delicate white lace collar. The artist, George Fuller, was little known in his lifetime. Fuller died suddenly, leaving his family in financial difficulty. A posthumous exhibition made his work, and this portrait, famous. It sold for a then-record of $6,000, saving his family from ruin.