Images(2)

Miss Hallam as Imogen

Date1771

Artist Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827)

OriginAmerica, Maryland, Annapolis

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsUnframed: 50" x 40 1/4" and Framed: 56" x 46" x 3 1/2"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1956-296,A&B

DescriptionA picture of a young woman standing before the mouth of a cave. She is dressed in exotic garb, including pink, gathered trousers beneath an open-front pink wrap, a long, embroidered pale blue coat, and a blue, feathered cap or hat. A sword scabbard hangs by her side, and she holds the drawn sword in her proper right hand, gesturing with it back towards the cave. Her proper left hand is drawn up, palm outwards, in a conventional gesture of protest. The rockery forming the cave occupies the left three-quarters of the composition. The right quarter reveals a distant river valley, with three men somewhat nearer.
The 3 1/2-inch carved and gilded "Maratta-style" frame is possibly original. (See the notes to the painting's conservation/framing file taken 2/2/2006).
Label TextCharles Willson Peale depicted Nancy Hallam portraying the famous ingénue Imogen in Cymbeline, an opera adapted from William Shakespeare’s play of the name. This is the earliest known representation of an American stage production. The painting shows Hallam in what was known as a “breeches role” since Imogen was hiding her identity by dressing as the male servant Fidele. She performed to rave reviews.

“[Hallam] exceeds my utmost idea. Such delicacy of manner! Such classical strictness of expression! The musick of her tongue! The Vox Liquida, how melting! ... How true and thorough her knowledge of the character she personated! Her whole form and dimensions how happily convertible, and universally adapted to the variety of her part.”
-The Maryland Gazette, 1770

Maryland-born artist Peale studied with Benjamin West in London before returning to Annapolis, where he painted this likeness. He became one of the most popular and productive American portraitists of the age.

ProvenancePeale apparently created this painting for his own collection. He exhibited it at the Annapolis Theatre during the performance of "Cymbeline" in October 1771, later hanging it in his painting room and, still later, in his Museum at Philadelphia. In an 1854 sale, it was listed in the accompanying catalogue as a landscape, no. 246, and was bought by one "Baird." Its whereabouts for the next 75 or so years remain unknown.
About 1930, the painting is believed to have been acquired by dealer Dorsey Griffith of New Market, Md. (but a mid-century interview with him by Marguerite Kumm states that Griffith could not remember when and from whom he had acquired it). From Dorsey Griffith to his [former] wife, dealer Hilda C. Griffith of Arlington, Va. From Hilda Giffith to an unidentified dealer in Northern Virginia in August 1953. Purchased the next day from the unidentified dealer by Miss Marguerite Kumm of Vienna, Virginia. Purchased from Kumm by Colonial Williamsburg in 1956. [See file correspondence with Kumm, especially her letter to Charles Coleman Sellers dated 18 February 1964].

Exhibition(s)