Girl in Garden

Dateca. 1840

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsUnframed: 39 7/8 x 27 1/4in. (101.3 x 69.2cm) and Framed: 48 1/2 x 35 1/2in.

Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Object number1939.100.2

DescriptionOil portrait, full length of young girl standing in garden, viewed almost head on, she is facing slightly to her left. Her dress is white, high waisted with a white sash, and short sleeves with long lace hanging to elbows below them, the neckline is a straight line off the shoulders. The bodice is gathered with a fuller skirt, and there is a fine lace trimming on the hem. Her pantalets are white with transparent lace trimming. She holds a bunch of purple grapes in her left hand and a spray of rose buds in her right. Background to her left has a plume-like green plant and to her right is green spikey foliage with a pink feathery flower and bud. Background shaded brown.
Label TextFrontal poses implied a lack of sophistication and were natural choices for children, whose forms were too small and compact to assume the bodily twists that added gracefulness and compositional interest to the portraits of more mature subjects.
Full-length frontal stances required foreshortening subjects' feet, however, a task for which few naive artists were prepared. A common solution was to show the feet turned out to the sides, nearly positioning them in profile. Combined with superficial treatment of the floor or ground, an acceptable result could be achieved.
These factors and the lack of a defined horizon create the impression that this little girl hovers over the grassy, flower-strewn field. The unusual combination of grapes and flower buds she holds and the towering plants that flank her contribute a note of exoticism.

MarkingsPrior to cleaning this painting was inscribed in lower right corner, "Anthony Drexel." When cleaned, this inscription was discovered to have been painted on top of the varnish and was removed as being a later addition.
ProvenancePart of the Juliana Force collection, the painting was purchased as lot no. 356 in the Parke-Bernet sale, February 18, 1939. Given to C. W. by Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.