The artwork titled “Mrs. Daniel DeSaussure Bacot” is a portrait executed in oil on canvas by the artist Samuel Morse, circa 1820. The painting is associated with the Romanticism movement, and it is currently held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, NY, US. This formal portrait genre work captures the likeness and perhaps the essence of its subject with the delicate brushwork and color palette typical of the era.
In the artwork, a woman is depicted in a three-quarter length portrait. She is wearing a luxurious, deep teal dress with puffed sleeves and a white, ruffled collar that frames her neck and chest. Her attire reflects the fashion of the early 19th century, with its high waistline and full sleeves, and is complemented by the golden jewelry she wears: a simple yet elegant necklace and what appears to be a matching bracelet on her wrist. The woman’s pose is one of relaxed composure, with her right arm gracefully resting along the arm of a chair and her left hand lightly touching her neck.
Her gaze is directed towards the viewer, captured with a softness in her eyes that conveys a sense of gentle engagement. The subject’s hair is fashioned in soft curls that frame her face and are gathered back with a ribbon or headband, a stylish coiffure for the period. The use of light on the woman’s visage and the contrast with the deeper tones of her dress and the background give the artwork a sense of volume and realism. The background is muted and consists of a plain, darkly painted wall, and a hint of a red drapery to the left side, which serves to focus the viewer’s attention on the subject without distraction, emphasizing the subject’s elegance and poise.
Samuel Morse’s skill in capturing the refined beauty and societal stature of Mrs. Daniel DeSaussure Bacot is evident in this portrayal. The artwork stands as a testament to both the artist’s mastery of portraiture and the aesthetic values of the Romantic period.
