Portrait of a Woman (Lillian Dudley Owen)

Copied Ahron Ben-Shmuel, Portrait of a Woman (Lillian Dudley Owen), ca. 1933, Tennessee marble on wood base, 14 1⁄8 x 8 1⁄2 x 10 1⁄2 in. (36.0 x 21.6 x 26.7 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Lillian Dudley Owen in memory of Adelyn D. Breeskin, 1986.61

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Woman (Lillian Dudley Owen)
Artist
Date
ca. 1933
Location
Dimensions
14 1⁄8 x 8 1⁄2 x 10 1⁄2 in. (36.0 x 21.6 x 26.7 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Mrs. Lillian Dudley Owen in memory of Adelyn D. Breeskin
Mediums
Mediums Description
Tennessee marble on wood base
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait female — Owen, Lillian Dudley — head
Object Number
1986.61
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1986.61

Artwork Description

Ahron Ben-Shmuel carved this portrait of Lillian Dudley Owen in the early 1930s, possibly just before her marriage in 1934. Owen was a member of the Smithsonian National Board and founder of the Hospitality and Information Service, which provides assistance for diplomats in Washington, D.C. The portrait’s minimal detail and exaggerated features resemble archaic Greek sculpture, which the artist studied during his apprenticeship.