Woman with Spectacles, William Matthew Prior, c. 1838

William Matthew PriorVereinigte Staaten, 1806–1873

Woman with Spectacles

c. 1838 · Painting

Kann ich es sehen?

Ja, derzeit ausgestellt

Wo ist „Woman with Spectacles“ heute? Harvard Art Museums, Gallery 2710, floor 2, North Arcade, Cambridge. Ja, derzeit ausgestellt. Geprüft 29. September 2026.

Harvard Art Museums

Cambridge, Vereinigte Staaten

Saal2710, floor 2, North Arcade

Öffentlich ausgestellt.

Geprüft: vor 12 Tagen
Unverändert seit: 27. Sept. 2026
Quelle: Das Museum

Auf der Karte Museumsseite

Über das Gemälde

This arresting portrait of a bespectacled woman standing before a window has charmed members of the Harvard community for decades. Her steady gaze and the detailed depiction of her hair, jewelry, and black tailored gown convey agency and intelligence. These specific elements of self-fashioning demonstrate Prior’s skill in representing the rich inner lives of his subjects through their surroundings and the objects they wear and hold.

The resemblance of the subject’s dress to academic and priestly robes has inspired new research. Harvard Art Museums curators are exploring the possibility that our subject may have lived around Albany, New York, and either attended or led one of the institutions for higher education for women in the region. We are also investigating the possibility that the portrait is an early example of Prior’s “spirit effect” portraits, in which he painted from memory posthumous portraits of indivi-duals who influenced him.

Harvard Art Museums