Mrs. Samuel BlodgetGilbert Stuart · 1798
Oil On Canvas- WallArt
- Neoclassicism
1798- Early Modern
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
Gilbert Stuart (1755 – 1828)
American Neoclassical portraitist who captured the likeness of George Washington with luminous, transparent flesh and dramatic light and shadow.
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (Philadelphia, United States of America)
Discover PAFA, America's oldest art museum & school! Explore 19th & 20th-century American masterpieces, including works by Eakins, and experience a vibrant artistic legacy in historic Philadelphia.
A Neoclassical Vision of Elegance
Created in 1798, Mrs. Samuel Blodget is a refined and elegant Neoclassical portrait of a young woman. This oval-shaped bust-length portrait, set within an ornate gold frame, captures the subject looking towards the viewer with a serene expression. The composition is positioned slightly off-center, creating an intimate connection through a close-up perspective.
The color palette is muted and sophisticated, dominated by:
The lighting appears to originate from the upper left, casting gentle shadows that define the contours of her face and neck, providing a three-dimensional quality. The use of lines is fluid and soft, particularly in the rendering of her hair and the folds of her white headwrap, which lacks harsh outlines to create a sense of lightness.
Technical Artistry and Texture
The artwork, likely executed in oil on canvas or board, employs techniques of glazing and blending to achieve smooth transitions in skin tones. The textures vary from the smooth, porcelain-like skin of the face to the more painterly, feathered strokes used for the clothing and background. The overall impression is one of a delicate, ethereal atmosphere characterized by soft lighting.
About this artwork
- Title: Mrs. Samuel Blodget
- Artist: Gilbert Stuart
- Year: 1798
- Format: Portrait
- Copyright status: Public domain
- Where to see it: Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts
- Movement: Neoclassicism
- Inventory number: 1879.8.23
- Corpus context: benjamin west, early american portraiture
- Color palette: Earthy
Quick Facts
- Medium: Oil on canvas or board
- Artistic style: Neoclassical portraiture
- Notable elements or techniques: Glazing and blending, soft lighting
- Artist: Gilbert Stuart
- Movement: Neoclassicism
Questions & Answers
Why is the copyright status of "Mrs. Samuel Blodget" what it is?
"Mrs. Samuel Blodget" by Gilbert Stuart is in the public domain - its copyright has expired. Copyright duration runs from the artist's death, which occurred in 1828.
What palette and what feeling does "Mrs. Samuel Blodget" combine?
The earthy palette of "Mrs. Samuel Blodget" by Gilbert Stuart goes together with its ethereal emotional tone. Color is one of the ways a work conveys feeling.
In which year and which movement was "Mrs. Samuel Blodget" made?
"Mrs. Samuel Blodget" was created in 1798 as a work of the Neoclassicism movement. Date and movement anchor the artwork in art history.