Portrait of Mary Kidder
March 7, 1860
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Accession Number
1962-94-4
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the intimate world of mid-19th-century American portraiture with *Portrait of Mary Kidder a drawing by Martha S. Day March 7, 1860. Preserved in the Smithsonian American Art's collection, this work captures a personal likeness amid the tense years leading to the Civil War, when such portraits often served as cherished family keepsakes or mementos of loved ones. As a classified with an unknown medium—possibly pencil, ink, or charcoal on paper—it reflects the era's practical artistic choices. Drawings were favored for their affordability and speed compared to formal oil paintings, allowing artists like Day to produce accessible records of daily life. Day, a woman navigating the male-dominated art world of the time, exemplifies the quiet contributions of female creators who focused on portraiture. Currently marked "Research in Progress," this piece holds promise for deeper insights into Mary Kidder's identity and Day's techniques, inviting visitors to ponder the untold stories within the Smithsonian's vast holdings of American art.