Miss Satterlee

Charles Bird King, Miss Satterlee, ca. 1830-1839, oil on wood, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Albert M. Pitcher, Jr., 1976.117
Charles Bird King, Miss Satterlee, ca. 1830-1839, oil on wood, 17 5814 18 in. (44.835.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Albert M. Pitcher, Jr., 1976.117
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Miss Satterlee
Date
ca. 1830-1839
Dimensions
17 5814 18 in. (44.835.8 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Albert M. Pitcher, Jr.
Mediums Description
oil on wood
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait female — Satterlee, Miss — bust
  • Animal — bird — parrot
Object Number
1976.117

Artwork Description

Miss Satterlee sat for Charles Bird King in his Washington studio. Her pet golden pheasant grips her forefinger and thumb, its elegant body mirroring the shape of her delicate hand. For a painter of his time, King made a rather daring choice in positioning the bird to call attention to Miss Satterlee’s bosom. Her fashionable clothing, intricate hairstyle, and fair, unblemished skin suggest that she, like her pet, lived a sheltered and protected life.

Works by this artist (1 item)

Tanya Aguiñiga, Metabolizing the Border, 2018-2020, Performance. Unique objects worn by artist/performer (glass, neoprene, rusted metal fragments of U.S./Mexico border fence, leather, cotton twine, flashlight) and photodocumentation of the performance (digital files), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Joint museum purchase with the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum through the American Women's History Initiative Acquisitions Pool, administered by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative, 2022.31.1.1-.10
Metabolizing the Border
Date2018-2020
Performance. Unique objects worn by artist/performer (glass, neoprene, rusted metal fragments of U.S./Mexico border fence, leather, cotton twine, flashlight) and photodocumentation of the performance (digital files)
Not on view

More Artworks from the Collection

Cat Mazza, Knit for Defense, 2011-2012, single-channel digital video, black and white, surround sound; 9:10 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the artist, 2012.28, © 2012, Cat Mazza
Knit for Defense
Date2011-2012
single-channel digital video, black and white, surround sound; 9:10 minutes
Not on view
Rico Gatson, History Lessons, 2004, four-channel video, color, sound; 10:12 minutes, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment, 2015.7.2, © 2004, Aunrico Gatson
History Lessons
Date2004
four-channel video, color, sound; 10:12 minutes
Not on view
The Passage
Date2009
single-channel video, color, sound; 19:00 minutes
Not on view
Johannes; Herodias; The Dance
Date2011
three-channel video, color, sound; 38:43 minutes
Not on view