Portrait of a Woman

Thomas Sully was regarded as one of the leading portrait painters of his day.  English born, he settled in Philadelphia in 1808 where he remained for the rest of his life.  A rapid and prolific painter, he is credited with finishing some 2,000 portraits documenting the elite of Philadelphia. 

Sully made several visits to London and was influenced in his work by the British artist Sir Thomas Lawrence, whose reputation was based in part on his work in the Romantic style, which focused on the mood and glamour of his sitters.  

He has been described as the American Lawrence, developing a style appreciated for its “elegant sweetness.” 

In this portrait of an unknown sitter, the fluid brush strokes of the cape, and the dress’ plunging neckline and revealing, diaphanous suggestion of the body are rendered with a seemingly effortless facility typical of Sully's virtuosity.