Seth Wells Cheney

American, 1810 - 1856

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The image is a sketch of a woman depicted from the waist up, seated with her body slightly turned to the left. Her facial features show a calm expression with a slightly upturned gaze, having softly defined eyes and a delicate nose. The woman's hair is styled in loose curls that fall around her shoulders. She is dressed in an off-the-shoulder gown with a patterned trim. The fabric appears to gather around her arms and torso, indicated by the shaded folds. The background of the image is plain.
Seth Wells Cheney, Mrs. Sylvanus D. Lewis (Estelle Anna Blanche Robinson), 1848-1856, graphite and charcoal with gouache on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.899

Mrs. Sylvanus D. Lewis (Estelle Anna Blanche Robinson)

Seth Wells Cheney · 1848-1856 · graphite and charcoal with gouache on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.899

The portrait shows the upper part of the subject's body, focusing on her head and a hint of her shoulders. The individual is in a three-quarter profile position, gazing slightly to the side. She has delicate facial features with a softly defined jawline, straight eyebrows, and a serene expression. Her hair is neatly arranged, pulled back and away from her face, revealing a smooth and tidy hairstyle. The clothing is only faintly visible, with minimal detail. There is no visible jewelry or objects being held. The background is plain and unadorned, consisting of a smooth, light-colored surface.
Seth Wells Cheney, Head of a Young Woman, 1840-1854, charcoal with white chalk on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.903

Head of a Young Woman

Seth Wells Cheney · 1840-1854 · charcoal with white chalk on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.903

This is an image of a grayscale sketch showing only the head of a man. The man's head is drawn in a straightforward position, positioned slightly to the right from the viewer's perspective. His facial features include a smooth complexion with prominent cheeks, strong, slightly curved eyebrows above almond-shaped eyes, firm lips, and a composed expression. His hair appears to be styled back smoothly, with some detailing around the sideburns and hints of curls near the ears. The man's clothing is drawn with minimal detail, but it suggests he is wearing an elegant suit with a high collar and a cravat or necktie. The background is plain, uncluttered, and matches the natural color of the sketching paper. There are no visible accessories or objects with the man. The entire portrait is deliberately understated, focusing attention on the man's face and expression.
Seth Wells Cheney, Head of a Man, 1840-1854, charcoal with white chalk on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.901

Head of a Man

Seth Wells Cheney · 1840-1854 · charcoal with white chalk on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.901

The image depicts a portrait of a woman from the upper chest up. She is slightly turned to the side, with her head facing to her right. Her features are delicate and she has a gentle expression. She has a small nose and full lips. Her hair is styled in a mid-19th century fashion, with soft waves framing her face and pulled back into a low bun or twist at the back. She wears a simple, light-colored garment with a folded collar or v-neckline. There are no visible pieces of jewelry or objects in her possession. The background is a plain, light tone.
Seth Wells Cheney, Head of a Woman, 1840-1854, charcoal with white chalk on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.902

Head of a Woman

Seth Wells Cheney · 1840-1854 · charcoal with white chalk on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.902

The drawing shows a woman seated, leaning slightly forward, with her head gently tilted to the side and downwards. She has delicate facial features with a serene expression, closed or looking down eyes, and softly closed lips. Her hair is styled in an updo, and she wears a form-fitting, long-sleeved dress with visible detailing around the bust and sleeves. Her hands are clasped together in front of her on her lap, and the background is a plain, neutral-toned surface. The drawing is signed with the inscription "Florence 1858" in the lower left corner.
Seth Wells Cheney, Young Woman, Florence [recto], 1839, charcoal and chalk on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.895.a

Young Woman, Florence [recto]

Seth Wells Cheney · 1839 · charcoal and chalk on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.895.a

The image shows a pencil sketch of a rural landscape with a tall, cylindrical tower on a hill. The horizon is low, with the land gently sloping downwards on the right. A large rock or boulder is near the tower. The sketch is monochromatic, using shades of gray to depict the scene. The background is empty, highlighting the solitude of the landscape and the windmill structure.
Seth Wells Cheney, Landscape with Mill, 1835-1840, graphite on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.893

Landscape with Mill

Seth Wells Cheney · 1835-1840 · graphite on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.893

This drawing is a sketch of a coastal scene, looking across a beach. There is a thatched-roof cottage on the left, nestled at the bottom of a slope, with smoke coming from the chimney. A tilted boat is on the shoreline to the right of the cottage. The horizon on the right is low above the flat water, and cliffs rise dramatically in the background on the left. The sky above is blank.
Seth Wells Cheney, House and Boat at the Shore, c. 1835-1840, graphite on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.894

House and Boat at the Shore

Seth Wells Cheney · c. 1835-1840 · graphite on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.894

The image is a pencil drawing of a landscape with an elevated viewpoint. The horizon is low, with the sea extending along it. The land is depicted with pencil strokes, while waves or grass are illustrated with lines. Close by, there are rocks and vegetation. In the distance, boats are faintly visible, with two large boulders on a cliff on the right. The drawing has a monochrome palette and soft shading, creating a serene look.
Seth Wells Cheney, Rocky Landscape, c. 1835-1840, graphite on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.892

Rocky Landscape

Seth Wells Cheney · c. 1835-1840 · graphite on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.892

This drawing shows a landscape with a path leading into a cluster of trees scattered across a gentle slope, some forming a small grove to the right and a few standing isolated to the left. The drawing is done in a sketchy style in shades of gray and black against the off-white background. Lightly sketched lines indicate grasses and shadows surrounding the path, transitioning into denser tones in the distance.
Seth Wells Cheney, Landscape, c. 1835-1840, graphite on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.888

Landscape

Seth Wells Cheney · c. 1835-1840 · graphite on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.888

The image shows a pencil sketch of an old, ornate building viewed from the front at eye-level. The building sits above ground level, with the roof's peak aligning symmetrically at the top center of the sketch. The sketch uses fluid pencil strokes to emphasize architectural features like windows and decorations. Some areas are more densely shaded to suggest texture, and others are lightly sketched to enhance depth perception. The color palette is monochromatic, dominated by varying shades of gray. Shadows and light are suggested through tonal variations, creating a three-dimensional appearance. Surrounding structures are subtly indicated with lighter outlines while the central building remains the focal point.
Seth Wells Cheney, House, c. 1835-1840, graphite on wove paper, Corcoran Collection (Gift of Alice F. Williams), 2015.19.898

House

Seth Wells Cheney · c. 1835-1840 · graphite on wove paper ·  Accession ID  2015.19.898