The artwork titled “Ruth Sears Bacon,” created by John Singer Sargent in 1887, is an oil painting on canvas that epitomizes the Realism art movement. This portrait, measuring 123.8 x 92.1 cm, is currently housed at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, Connecticut, United States.
The artwork depicts a young girl, presumably Ruth Sears Bacon, seated with a gentle yet captivating expression. She is dressed in a white garment, exuding innocence and purity, and is holding a doll dressed similarly in white with blue stockings. The artist has exquisitely captured the texture of the fabrics and the girl’s soft features using fluid brushstrokes that characterize Sargent’s technique. The background, painted in neutral tones, subtly frames the subject without detracting from her presence, emphasizing the realism that defines the art movement. The careful rendering of light and shadow further enhances the lifelike quality of the portrayal, making it a quintessential example of Sargent’s mastery in portraiture.
