Portrait of a Woman (Lillian Dudley Owen)

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: Ahron Ben-Shmuel
Date: ca. 1933
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum
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Luce Foundation Center
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4th Floor
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48A
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: wood
marble
Mediums Description: Tennessee marble on wood base
Classifications: Sculpture
Subjects: 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.