Artwork
Mrs. Howard Cushing (Ethel Cochrane) (The Mandarin Coat)
Mrs. Howard Cushing (Ethel Cochrane) (The Mandarin Coat) is an oil painting by Howard Cushing. It dates from 1904 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Howard Gardiner Cushing’s 1904 oil portrait, titled *Mrs.
About this work
Overview
Howard Gardiner Cushing’s 1904 oil portrait, titled *Mrs. Howard Cushing (Ethel Cochrane) (The Mandarin Coat)*, is part of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston’s collection. The work presents Ethel Cochrane seated indoors, her posture relaxed as she leans an arm on a chair’s back. A muted figure occupies the shadowed space behind her, while a small red canvas hangs on the wall to her right.
Subject & Meaning
The painting records a domestic moment, focusing on the sitter’s attire—a light‑colored dress topped by a vivid orange coat with blue‑trimmed sleeves, an item that lends the work its subtitle. An orange fruit placed on a nearby surface adds a subtle still‑life element, hinting at everyday luxury and the personal tastes of the early‑20th‑century household.
Technique & Style
Cushing employs a loose brushwork that creates a lightly textured surface, especially evident in the rendering of the coat’s fabric. The oil medium is applied with varying thickness, allowing the coat’s folds to appear soft and voluminous. The overall palette balances warm tones of the coat and fruit with cooler background hues, directing attention to the sitter’s figure.
History & Provenance
Completed in 1904, the portrait remained within the Cushing family before being acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, where it is currently displayed. Its provenance reflects the typical path of early‑American portraiture entering public collections during the mid‑20th century, providing insight into the era’s collecting practices.
Artist & collection
