Girl with Cat

Dateca. 1840

Artist William Thompson Bartoll (1817 - 1859)

OriginAmerica, Massachusetts, Marblehead (probably)

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsUnframed: 27 1/8 x 22 1/8in. (68.9 x 56.2cm) and Framed: 31 1/2 x 26 3/4in.

Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Object number1939.100.3

DescriptionOil portrait of young girl holding cat in her arms, half-length against a blue green background. Girl is wearing an orangish yellow dress with straight off the shoulder neckline with lace edging, and short sleeves which are fastened with pale blue bows, and white undersleeves (also short) of more ornate lace and holes picked out in design. The front of the dress is plain with normal waistline and full skirt is slightly gathered at the waist. She wears a gold ring on her right forefinger, and holds black and white cat with both hands, very awkwardly. Cat has orangish eyes to match her dress and looks very uncomfortable. It is extremely poorly drawn. She has blonde hair, blue eyes, pink cheeks and a pouting mouth.
Label TextThe sensitive modeling of the child's face and hair attest to William Bartoll's knowledge of formal studio conventions. Yet his naive drawing of the child's hands and the cat's forelegs betray his earlier work as a house and sign painter.
MarkingsInscribed in paint on the verso of the original canvas support, now lined, is "W.Bartoll, Pinxt."
ProvenanceFound in Marblehead, Mass., and purchased by Mrs. Rockefeller from Bessie J. Howard, Boston, Mass. Given to C. W. by Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.