Portrait of a Lady
John Neagle·c. 1825/1830
Historical Context
This Portrait of a Lady, attributed to John Neagle and painted around 1825-1830, is associated with one of Philadelphia's leading portrait painters. Neagle was a protégé of Thomas Sully and became famous for his portrait Pat Lyon at the Forge, one of the most celebrated American paintings of the early nineteenth century. His portraits capture Philadelphia's society during its golden age as America's cultural capital.
Technical Analysis
The oil on canvas shows the warm palette and fluid brushwork influenced by Sully's example. The flattering treatment of the sitter and the accomplished handling of fabric textures demonstrate the refinement of Philadelphia's portrait tradition.
Provenance
(C. K. Johnson, Greenwich, Connecticut); purchased 1 May 1923 by Thomas B. Clarke [1848-1931], New York; his estate; sold as part of the Clarke collection 29 January 1936, through (M. Knoedler & Co. New York), to The A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, Pittsburgh; gift 1947 to NGA.
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