Study of Right Hand on a Book
Medium
figures
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt
Accession Number
1942-50-183
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Study of Right Hand on a** Daniel Huntington (1816–6), a distinguished American artist and key figure in 19th academic painting, crafted this intimate study in 1887. As a portraitist and president of the National Academy of, Huntington championed realistic depictions of the human form, often drawing from life to capture subtle nuances. This work, classified as a figure study, reflects his meticulous approach during a period when American artists bridged Romanticism and emerging modernism. Focusing on a right hand resting thoughtfully on a book, the piece highlights the hand's expressive p...