ticketsMember | Make a donation

The Letter

1895–1900
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 774
Boston-born and Paris-trained Thomas Wilmer Dewing is known as an "artist’s artist," given the lifetime appeal of his refined work to a select audience. In "The Letter," Dewing embraces his favorite theme—a contemplative woman in a genteel environment. The work’s aesthetic quietism has many sources: the intimate interiors of the Dutch Old Master Jan Vermeer; the formal arrangements of Japanese prints; and the simplified pictorial design and limited palette of the American expatriate James McNeill Whistler. "The Letter" retains its elaborate original frame—designed by Dewing’s close friend, the architect Stanford White—as do the other paintings on this wall.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Letter
  • Artist: Thomas Wilmer Dewing (American, 1851–1938)
  • Date: 1895–1900
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 20 1/4 x 16 in. (51.4 x 40.6 cm)
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1910
  • Object Number: 10.82
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
The Evening Dress, Thomas Wilmer Dewing American, Pastel on brown paper cardboard, American
The Evening Dress
Thomas Wilmer Dewing
before 1926
Tobias and the Angel, Thomas Wilmer Dewing American, Oil on canvas, American
Tobias and the Angel
Thomas Wilmer Dewing
1887
Lilac Dress, Thomas Wilmer Dewing American, Oil on canvas, American
Lilac Dress
Thomas Wilmer Dewing
by 1919
Portrait of a Woman, Thomas Wilmer Dewing American, Silverpoint on paper, mounted on pulp board, American
Portrait of a Woman
Thomas Wilmer Dewing
after 1894
Green and Gold, Thomas Wilmer Dewing American, Oil on canvas, American
Green and Gold
Thomas Wilmer Dewing
by 1917

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.