Elizabeth Green (Mrs. Ebenezer Storer II)
Original title: Elizabeth Green (Mrs. Ebenezer Storer II)
kurzbeschreibung
Elizabeth Green, wife of Ebenezer Storer II, appears in this pastel by John Singleton Copley, made around 1767. Copley drew the portrait in pastel crayon on paper that was later mounted on canvas. It ranks among the characteristic works of his portraiture in colonial America.
Description
A green dress with a white lace collar and a string of pearls defines the sitter's appearance. Her hair is gathered into an elaborate bun, likewise threaded with pearls. She looks straight ahead, her expression composed and still. A plain dark ground recedes and throws attention onto the figure. Soft light falls across face and shoulders; the arrangement is balanced and symmetrical, with the woman at its center.
Context
Copley made this pastel in Boston, where he worked as the leading portraitist of the American colonies. Elizabeth Green came from the wealthy merchant class; her husband, Ebenezer Storer II, was a respected merchant. Pastel portraits were much favored by the upper class at the time, since they offered a faster and cheaper alternative to oil painting.
Impact
Quiet dignity and genteel restraint emanate from this portrait. The delicate pastel tones and gentle lighting create an atmosphere at once intimate and formal. The sitter's direct gaze establishes an immediate connection with the viewer.
Technique
For this likeness Copley used pastel crayon on paper, which was mounted on canvas. This allowed fine gradations of color and a soft texture. The muted palette and subtle shading are typical of his pastel works.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)