Artwork
Portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood
Portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood is an unspecified painting by the Realist artist Unknown. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. The work is a portrait of a young child dressed in a vivid red garment trimmed with white lace.
About this work
Overview
The work is a portrait of a young child dressed in a vivid red garment trimmed with white lace. The figure holds a modest bouquet, while the background is rendered in deep tones and includes two lanterns suspended by tassels, creating a contrast that emphasizes the central figure.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter appears to be a child, likely a member of the Haywood family, presented in an intimate, domestic setting. The bright attire and delicate flowers may signify innocence and familial affection, while the lanterns suggest a modest interior environment.
Technique & Style
Executed with careful attention to fabric texture, the painting highlights the puffed sleeves and lace trim through subtle brushwork. The dark backdrop is rendered with broader strokes, allowing the red dress to dominate the visual field and draw the viewer’s eye toward the child’s expression.
History & Provenance
Identified as a portrait of Fred Adelbert Haywood, the piece originates from a private commission, though specific details of its creation date and subsequent ownership remain limited.
Context
Portraits of children in richly colored clothing were common in the 19th‑century domestic genre, reflecting both the status of the family and the era’s interest in personal, sentimental representation.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
