Mrs. Ebenezer Storer (Mary Edwards)
Original title: Mrs. Ebenezer Storer (Mary Edwards)
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike the formal society portraits common in its day, this pastel by John Singleton Copley feels notably restrained. It shows Mary Edwards, wife of the Boston merchant Ebenezer Storer, painted between 1767 and 1769. The medium is pastel on laid paper mounted on canvas, measuring 24 by 18 inches (61 by 45.7 cm). An older woman appears in a quiet, withdrawn pose against a dark ground.
Description
A white head covering dotted with dark spots, almost veil-like, frames the face. Beneath it emerges a dark dress, set off by a white shirt patterned with black dots. The sitter looks straight at the viewer, her expression serious and thoughtful. Because the background stays a single dark tone, attention settles entirely on the figure, and a muted palette of greys and whites governs the whole.
Context
The portrait was made in Boston, where Copley was then the leading painter of the colonial period. Mary Edwards was married to the wealthy merchant Ebenezer Storer, whose family belonged to the city's respected circle. Among prosperous patrons, pastel was a popular choice because it allowed a portrait that was both quick and refined.
Impact
A calm dignity and seriousness belonging to the sitter come through from the sheet. Textiles and features are caught so precisely that an intimate, almost tangible presence arises, one that speaks directly to the viewer.
Technique
Copley worked with pastel crayon on laid paper, which was mounted on canvas for stability. This method permits soft gradations of shadow and a detailed rendering of surfaces, as seen in the folds of the head covering and the patterns of the fabrics.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)