Mrs. Pingry

Unidentified, Mrs. Pingry, 1830s, pencil on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.74
Copied Unidentified, Mrs. Pingry, 1830s, pencil on paper, image (oval): 2 3⁄4 x 2 1⁄4 in. (7.1 x 5.8 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.74
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Mrs. Pingry
Artist
Unidentified
Date
1830s
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
image (oval): 2 3⁄4 x 2 1⁄4 in. (7.1 x 5.8 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer
Mediums Description
pencil on paper
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait female — Pingry, Mrs. — bust
  • Portrait female — Pingry, Mrs. — profile
Object Number
1999.27.74
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1999.27.74

Artwork Description

Mrs. Pingry, sketched in profile, returns the gaze of her husband, Reverend John F. Pingry. Her long graceful neck and elaborate hairstyle compensate for her modest gown and lack of jewelry. The plainness of her clothing suggests that Mrs. Pingry chose an outfit that was respectable rather than extravagant, reflecting her position as a reverend’s wife.