Andreas Martin Andersen (Bergen, Norway, 1869 - 1902, Boston)
Florence Hackett, about 1900
Graphite and color washes on gray paper, 45.6 x 26.7 cm (17 15/16 x 10 1/2 in.)
This rectangular pencil bust portrait of a young woman, Florence Hackett, is positioned vertically. The light-skinned woman faces slightly to our left but her gaze is directly out toward the viewer. Her straight brown hair falls to just below chin length with short bangs. A small sprig of flowers and leaves is pinned to her hair on the left side of her head. She has a roundish face with full cheeks and a small nose and chin; her full lips are pursed. She has an exceptionally long neck. Her dress has a round banded neckline with a ruffled flounce and loosely cinched waist; the sleeves are also ruffled below the shoulder. While the artist used soft color to define her face, hair, and neckline, he used simple pencil lines to suggest the details of her dress. Inscribed on the lower left is the encircled monogram AMA; inscribed on the lower right is the signature A M Andersen.
Short Gallery
Commentary
Andreas Martin Andersen made portraits of many wealthy people from Boston and Newport over the course of his short career—including this drawing of Florence Hackett. The pencil portrait shows the young artist’s blossoming talent. Ms. Hackett’s face and the elegant lines of her long neck are refined. They offset the looser, more sparing strokes of the pencil that suggest the ruffles and drapery of her blouse. The artist added deliberate touches of soft color to finish the drawing.
Isabella supported many young artists and acquired four paintings by Andersen in addition to this drawing. Tragically Andersen contracted tuberculosis in 1902 and died shortly at the age of 33.