Woman Reading to a Child

Charles West Cope

Associated Names
Charles West Cope

Artist, British, 1811 - 1890

The artwork features two figures: a woman and an infant sitting closely together. The woman is positioned slightly to the left, turned towards the child with her head tilted down. Her facial features include softly arched eyebrows and a serene expression. Her hair is covered by a loosely wrapped head covering. The infant is nestled against the woman's side, with its head near her shoulder. The child's face is simple and round. Both figures wear flowing garments depicted with loose, fluid lines. The background is abstract with dark, expressive strokes and a generally textured appearance, hinting at an indoor setting. The lines are bold and the forms are sketched in a loose, gestural style, emphasizing the intimate atmosphere between the two figures.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    pen and brown ink with brown wash on wove paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of William B. O'Neal

  • Dimensions

    overall: 6.3 x 5.5 cm (2 1/2 x 2 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1995.52.28


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Miss M. P. Burt (great-granddaughter of the artist); (Sabin Galleries, Ltd., London); purchased by William B. O'Neal, Charlottesville, VA, 1973-1994; gift to NGA, 1995.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1993

  • NGA O'Neal 1993, cat 88.

Wikidata ID

Q64539615

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