Artwork
Hannah Wentworth Atkinson
Hannah Wentworth Atkinson is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Joseph Blackburn. It dates from 1760 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1760 by the English artist Joseph Blackburn, this oil portrait presents Hannah Wentworth Atkinson. The work is part of Blackburn’s series of North‑American sitters and is now owned by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown seated, wearing a refined gray gown with a low neckline accented by blue ribbon trim. She holds a pink blossom in her right hand while her left hand rests on her knee, suggesting a poised yet intimate moment.
Technique & Style
Executed in a Rococo idiom, the painting employs a dark backdrop that isolates the figure, allowing the delicate folds of the dress and the luminous skin to dominate. Blackburn’s brushwork is notably smooth, especially in rendering flesh tones and fabric texture, while the lighting creates a subtle chiaroscuro effect that highlights the face and hands.
History & Provenance
Blackburn, an English portraitist active in British North America, produced this piece alongside other contemporary works such as his portrait of Colonel Theodore Atkinson. The painting entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition, though the precise path of ownership prior to the museum remains undocumented.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph Blackburn (died 1787) was an English painter who worked mainly in British North America. His notable works include portraits of Hugh Jones (circa 1777) and Colonel Theodore Atkinson (circa 1760).
