New England Hostess
n.d.
Medium
Painting
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Laura Dreyfus Barney and Natalie Clifford Barney in memory of their mother, Alice Pike Barney
Accession Number
1952.13.72
Tags
About this artwork
William Gerard Barry painted many members of fashionable society after he arrived in America in 1888. Critics praised the young artist not only for his ârare knack of catching a likeness,â but also for his ability to convey a sitter's spirit (Chicago Daily Tribune, June 1, 1890). Here, the lady's handsome features and vibrant green sash stand out against the creamy shades of her dress and the wall behind her. Her confident, appraising expression and relaxed arms suggest a woman who ...