Portrait of a Young Woman

Edward Harrison May, Portrait of a Young Woman, 1862, oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Thomas W. Evans Collection, 1983.101.7
Copied Edward Harrison May, Portrait of a Young Woman, 1862, oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard, 2416 34 in. (60.942.4 cm.), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Thomas W. Evans Collection, 1983.101.7
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Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Young Woman
Date
1862
Dimensions
2416 34 in. (60.942.4 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Thomas W. Evans Collection
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait female — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1983.101.7

Artwork Description

In this painting of an unknown young woman, Edward Harrison May used soft brushstrokes and muted colors to emphasize her dreamy expression. The girl’s tilted head, wide eyes, and slightly parted lips create an idealized image that is both classical and melancholy. Her dark hair and rich green dress emphasize the porcelain skin of her bare throat, reinforcing the nineteenth-century idea of women as fragile creatures.