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
Copied Charles Bird King, Miss Satterlee, ca. 1830-1839, oil on wood, 17 5⁄8 x 14 1⁄8 in. (44.8 x 35.8 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Albert M. Pitcher, Jr., 1976.117
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Miss Satterlee
Artist
Date
ca. 1830-1839
Location
Dimensions
17 5⁄8 x 14 1⁄8 in. (44.8 x 35.8 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
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/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.