Martha

c. 1835

American 19th Century

Associated Names
American 19th Century

Painter

The image shows a portrait of a woman depicted from the waist up. She is seated and facing forward. Her facial features are characterized by a fair complexion, and her hair is dark brown, parted in the middle and pulled back neatly. She is wearing an olive green dress with puffed sleeves and detailed lace trim across the dress. The dress has a high neckline with a small square brooch at the collar. She holds a musical instrument with the name "MARTHA" emblazoned on it. The background features a red curtain with books stacked to one side and a landscape visible through an opening, showing a body of water flanked by trees and hills.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Recorded as from western New York State. Purchased in 1953 by Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch; gift to NGA, 1958.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1957

  • American Primitive Paintings from the Collection of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, Part II, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1957, no. 63.

1966

  • Music-Making American Style, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1966-1967, no cat.

1968

  • The American Primitive Paintings Exhibit, organized by the Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, California, for de Saisset Art Gallery, University of Santa Clara, 1968.

Bibliography

1970

  • American Paintings and Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1970: 140, repro.

1980

  • American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1980: 283, repro.

1992

  • Chotner, Deborah, with contributions by Julie Aronson, Sarah D. Cash, and Laurie Weitzenkorn. American Naive Paintings. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1992: 545, color repro. 544.

  • American Paintings: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1992: 412, repro.

Inscriptions

on accordion: MARTHA

Wikidata ID

Q20185835

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