Portrait of a Woman before a Window

Attributed to William Henry Brown American

ca. 1850

Not on view

While its subject is unknown, this image has been linked to William Henry Brown, who was among the most prolific silhouette portraitists of the nineteenth century. Brown tended to affix his silhouettes to sepia-toned lithographs that mimicked the look of drawings, as is the case here. Usually made by cutting a profile portrait from black-inked paper, silhouettes were wildly popular throughout the nineteenth century. The democratic nature of the art form can be attributed to the affordability of the materials involved; as scissors, ink, and paper were relatively inexpensive, silhouettes could be commissioned for relatively small sums.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Portrait of a Woman before a Window
Artist: Attributed to William Henry Brown (American, Charleston, South Carolina 1808–1883 Charleston, South Carolina)
Date: ca. 1850
Medium: Cut paper against a lithographic background
Dimensions: sheet: 14 1/2 x 12 in. (36.8 x 30.5 cm)
Classification: Cut Paper
Credit Line: Mary Martin Fund, 1984
Object Number: 1984.1101.1
Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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Silhouette Portrait of John Marshall, William Henry Brown American, Lithograph with tint stone — Silhouette Portrait of John Marshall
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Sitter John Marshall
1844

Powder Horn, Horn (cow), lead, American — Powder Horn
American
18th century

The Connoisseur, Honoré Daumier French, Pen and ink, wash, watercolor, lithographic crayon, and gouache over black chalk on wove paper — The Connoisseur
Honoré Daumier
ca. 1860–65

Silhouette Portrait of Martin Van Buren, William Henry Brown American, Lithograph with tint stone — Silhouette Portrait of Martin Van Buren
William Henry Brown
Lithographer Lithographed and published by E. B. & E. C. Kellogg
1844

Off to War (Henderson Ledger Artist B), Frank Henderson Native American, Pencil, colored pencil, and ink on paper, Arapaho — Off to War (Henderson Ledger Artist B)
Frank Henderson
ca. 1882

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