The artwork entitled “Susan Walker Morse (the Muse)” was created by the artist Samuel Morse in the year 1837. Executed in the medium of oil on canvas, this piece belongs to the Romanticism art movement and is categorized as a portrait. Presently, the artwork is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) located in New York City, NY, US.
In the artwork, a young woman is depicted seated on an ornate carved bench adorned with plush red upholstery. Her attire is characterized by a flowing golden dress, featuring voluminous sleeves and an intricate lace collar. The woman is engaged in the act of drawing or writing in an oversized sketchbook, which she holds delicately upon her lap, with a pencil in her right hand. Her serene expression, coupled with her steady gaze directed towards the horizon, imparts a sense of contemplative introspection. The backdrop is enriched with a classical architectural element, alongside a majestic urn and a richly patterned green drapery. The environment is enveloped in a twilight sky, with hues of pink and blue blending harmoniously. The overall composition evokes an air of refined elegance and intellectual poise, emblematic of the Romantic era.
