Portrait of a Connecticut Clockmaker's Wife

Object Details

Attributed to

Ralph Earl, born Worcester County, MA 1751-died Bolton, CT 1801

Sitter

unidentified

Luce Center Label

This painting of a Connecticut clockmaker’s wife was meant to hang to the right of her husband’s portrait, preserving their images and values for subsequent generations. Ralph Earl showed her holding a book, possibly a Bible, as a sign of piety and literacy. The drapery in the background was a compositional device that the artist learned when he studied portraiture in England.

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Orrin Wickersham June

ca. 1800

Object number

1967.136.3

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Medium

oil on wood

Dimensions

10 1/4 x 7 7/8 in. (26.0 x 20.0 cm.)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

On View

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor, 1B

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Luce Foundation Center, 3rd Floor

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Portrait female

Cityscape\Connecticut

Record ID

saam_1967.136.3

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7ce908249-a233-443f-a9eb-8fef565a6aff