Artwork
Ann Old Coleman (Mrs. Robert Coleman)
Ann Old Coleman (Mrs. Robert Coleman) is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Jacob Eichholtz. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jacob Eichholtz’s portrait of Ann Old Coleman, dated around 1820, presents a seated woman in a modest white bonnet and dark dress. She rests her folded hands on her lap while seated in a red chair against a draped crimson backdrop. The work, originally executed in oil on canvas, was later transferred to a wooden support.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Ann Old Coleman, the wife of Robert Coleman, is depicted with restrained elegance, reflecting early‑19th‑century ideals of femininity and domestic virtue. Her simple attire and composed posture convey a sense of modesty and respectability, typical of portraiture intended to affirm family status and personal character.
Technique & Style
Eichholtz employs careful modeling of fabric folds and subtle tonal variations to render the dress and background. The brushwork is smooth, emphasizing the clarity of form rather than the emotive excess associated with Romanticism. The transfer from canvas to wood suggests a later conservation effort to preserve the surface.
History & Provenance
Created circa 1820, the portrait entered the Coleman family collection and remained in private hands for much of the 19th century. Documentation indicates the canvas was later mounted on wood, a common practice to stabilize aging works. The painting now resides in a public institution, where it contributes to the study of early American portraiture.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
