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Mrs. Day by Phillips, Ammi

Phillips, Ammi · c. 1835

This portrait, "Mrs. Day" by Ammi Phillips, painted around 1835, is a testament to the enduring appeal of American folk art. Once considered a simple, affordable commission, Phillips's works now command impressive prices at auction, sometimes reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Look closely at Mrs. Day's calm, direct gaze and the intricate lace of her bonnet. These details, rendered with Phillips's characteristic straightforward style, reveal the unpretentious skill of an itinerant artist who captured the spirit of his time.

Phillips (1788-1865) traveled across New England, making a living by painting local residents. His technique was efficient, focusing on the sitter's presence rather than elaborate backgrounds, which allowed him to offer his art at a lower cost. This efficiency and his unique artistic voice are precisely what make his portraits so valuable today.

The evolution of how we value such art is fascinating, isn't it? What do you find most striking about Mrs. Day?

Details

The painter, Ammi Phillips, was an itinerant artist.
The painter, Ammi Phillips, was an itinerant artist.
He moved from town to town, painting portraits on commission.
He moved from town to town, painting portraits on commission.
His plain style meant paintings were quick and inexpensive.
His plain style meant paintings were quick and inexpensive.
The elaborately ruffled lace bonnet signals middle-class respectability; its crisp white against the dark background is the painting's most technically ambitious passage.
The elaborately ruffled lace bonnet signals middle-class respectability; its crisp white against the dark background is the painting's most technically ambitious passage.
The solid black bodice, typical of modest 1830s American mourning or everyday dress, creates a stark silhouette that focuses attention on the face and hands.
The solid black bodice, typical of modest 1830s American mourning or everyday dress, creates a stark silhouette that focuses attention on the face and hands.
Transcript

This portrait of Mrs. Day looks like a modest work from 1835. The painter, Ammi Phillips, was an itinerant artist. He moved from town to town, painting portraits on commission. His plain style meant paintings were quick and inexpensive. But today, his works sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. The simple directness of Mrs. Day's gaze is now highly prized.