Elizabeth Bartlett Nolen
Artist
John Ritto Penniman
(American, 1782–1841)
Date1825
Mediumoil on panel
Dimensionspanel: 50.2 x 42.2 cm (19 3/4 x 16 5/8 in.)
ClassificationsPaintings
Credit LineMuseum purchase
Terms
Object number1982.11
Label Text2000-04-12: JOHN RITTO PENNIMAN
American, 1782-1841
Elizabeth Bartlett Nolen, 1828-1830
Oil on panel
Eliza S. Paine Fund, 1982.11
Penniman probably painted Elizabeth Nolen's (1783-1879) portrait during one of his many visits to West Brookfield not long before he opened his studio in that village in 1830. The sitter was the sister of Penniman's wife, Susanna.
Although an accomplished portraitist, Penniman made his living primarily as a painter of furniture, shop signs, and architectural interiors and as a designer of engraved materials. The fine delineation of lace, ribbons, and jewelry demonstrates the crisp style that Penniman learned as an ornamental painter. The artist typically presented his sitter in an unidealized manner which nevertheless seemed to please his middle-class patrons.ProvenanceFrank S. Schwarz and Son, Philadelphia PAOn View
Not on view
