Who painted Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter?

Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter was painted by Frederick W. Mayhew in 1823.

Where can I see Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter?

Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter?

Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter?

Museum-quality prints of Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter

Frederick W. Mayhew , 1823

Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter is an oil painting by the Romanticist artist Frederick W. Mayhew. It dates from 1823 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Frederick W.

About this work

Overview

Frederick W. Mayhew’s oil on canvas, dated circa 1823, presents a domestic scene titled Mrs. John Harrisson and Daughter. The composition centers on a seated woman in a white gown, holding a swaddled infant. Both figures are rendered against a subdued, darkened backdrop, emphasizing the delicate interaction between mother and child.

Subject & Meaning

The portrait identifies the adult as Harriet Wood Harrisson, the wife of John Harrisson, and includes her young daughter. The intimate pose, gentle expressions, and shared white attire suggest themes of maternal affection and familial unity, common in early‑nineteenth‑century portraiture.

Technique & Style

Mayhew employs a restrained palette, contrasting the luminous whites of the figures with a muted background to create depth. Fine brushwork delineates the lace, ruffles, and the baby’s bonnet, while soft modeling gives the skin a subtle translucency, reflecting the Romantic era’s interest in sentiment and detail.

History & Provenance

Created around 1823, the work likely remained in the Harrisson family before entering public collections. Documentation ties the sitter to the Wood Harrisson lineage, though the painting’s later ownership trail is not extensively recorded, limiting precise provenance beyond its early familial context.