Artwork
Morris Hunt
Morris Hunt is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist William Morris Hunt. It dates from 1857 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Morris Hunt is an 1857 oil portrait painted by William Morris Hunt, depicting a young child in a contemplative pose.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a light-skinned child with curly blonde hair, wears a white dress adorned with red bows, conveying innocence and simplicity. A direct, neutral gaze engages the viewer, while the dark background emphasizes the child's presence.
Technique & Style
Hunt's Barbizon-style training influences the work's somber, focused composition and use of chiaroscuro, drawing attention to the child's face and attire.
History & Provenance
Created during Hunt's tenure as a leading Boston artist, the portrait survived the Great Boston Fire of 1872 and is now part of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston's collection.
Context
Painted after Hunt's Parisian training under Jean-François Millet, the work reflects his adaptation of European realist techniques to American portraiture.
Legacy
While many of Hunt's works were lost in the 1872 fire, this portrait endures as a representative example of his style and contribution to American art.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
William Morris Hunt (March 31, 1824 – September 8, 1879) was an American painter.
Madame Valentine De Give-LeDelier as a Child
Emma Lejeune
Portrait of a Young Girl
Henri Bernard van der Kolk at age 2
Bildnis von Rudolf Kollers Söhnlein
Portrait of a Little Girl
Barneportræt
Barneportræt
Maria Theresia (1816-1867), daughter of Karl of Nassau-Weilburg
Portrait of Manuela Téllez-Girón
Portrait of Count Pavel Stroganov as A Child
Portræt af Holger Aagaard Hammerich som 4-årig