John Magee Ellsworth
In 1876 the family of John Magee Ellsworth (1874-1921) made a stop at Ball’s studio in Florence during their Grand Tour of Europe, resulting in a commission for full-length portrait of two-year-old Ellsworth. He is depicted nude, in a contrapposto pose, holding drapery in his left hand and raising his right one in greeting. The original accompanying mahogany pedestal (28 3/4 in. H) is identical to those favored by fellow American expatriate sculptor Hiram Powers, whose Florentine estate adjoined Ball’s property. It was quite possible fashioned by the same workers.
Artwork Details
- Title: John Magee Ellsworth
- Artist: Thomas Ball (American, Charlestown, Massachusetts 1819–1911 Montclair, New Jersey)
- Date: 1876
- Culture: American
- Medium: Marble
- Dimensions: 33 3/4 x 13 3/4 x 10 in. (85.7 x 34.9 x 25.4 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Charles A. Van Rensselaer III, in memory of his aunt, Elisabeth Van Rensselaer Ellsworth, 1992
- Object Number: 1992.236a, b
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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