TitleBessie Potter Vonnoh
Artist
Robert William Vonnoh
(American, 1858 - 1933)
Date1915
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsUnframed: 27 1/8 × 23 1/8 in.
Framed: 30 × 26 × 2 1/2 in.
SignedSigned in red paint at bottom right of center: "Vonnoh 1915"
Credit LineNational Academy of Design, New York, NY, Gift of Bessie Potter Vonnoh and Robert William Vonnoh, 1916
Object number1352-P
Label TextHaving attained Academy membership automatically when the Academy and the Society of American Artists merged in 1906, Bessie Potter Vonnoh was under no obligation to present a portrait of herself to the Academy. However, many artists who entered the ranks by this route graciously honored the spirit of the regulation and added their images to the Academy's collection. The fact that, among the several portraits that Robert Vonnoh painted of his wife, this one presents her in the costume worn by Elizabeth Vigée-LeBrun in the self-portrait included in the Uffizi Gallery's collection of artist portraits suggests it was executed specifically for the National Academy's collection, which, like that of the Uffizi, is particularly rich in portraits of artists. The wording of the Council minutes concerning the gift of this portrait is ambiguous--perhaps intentionally--regarding the identity of the donor: "A portrait of Bessie Potter Vonnoh by Robert W. Vonnoh offered as a gift to the Academy, was duly accepted." It may be assumed the contribution was made jointly.Collections
- Artist Portrait Highlights from the Collection
