Anders Zorn (Mora, 1860 - 1920, Mora)
Isabella Gardner, 1894
Etching , 25.2 x 20 cm (9 15/16 x 7 7/8 in.)
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This etching is a portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner. She is seated in a Savonarola chair and wears a dark dress, a fur cape, and a peacock-shaped headdress on the top of her head. Her legs are crossed at the ankle, and we can see the bottoms of her heeled shoes. Behind her, to the left, is a heraldic crest with the name “Isabella” written underneath. There is a large brocaded curtain hanging to the right.
Short Gallery
Commentary
This etching was Zorn’s first commission from Isabella Gardner. With her black dress, distinctive feather plume and coat of arms, Gardner is shown here as a status-conscious member of the American upper class. The date on the inscription, 18 February 1894, marked Zorn’s 34th birthday. He celebrated this occasion with Gardner at a party thrown in his honor at her home in Boston’s Back Bay.
Source: Anders Zorn: A European Artist Seduces America, special exhibition on view in the museum's Hostetter Gallery, February 28 – May, 2013.
Source: Anders Zorn: A European Artist Seduces America, special exhibition on view in the museum's Hostetter Gallery, February 28 – May, 2013.