Attributed to Frank Weston Benson
American | 1862-1951
Portrait of a Young Woman
Watercolor on paper
Signed “F.W. Benson 1912” (lower right)
This watercolor painting, entitled Portrait of a Young Woman, is a breathtaking example of Benson’s command of light and color. The subject of the painting is a young fashionable woman, presented in a three-quarter-length portrait. She engages the viewer with her charming gaze and discrete smile, her blue eyes mirroring the cerulean hue of her gauzy shawl. The sitter dons a floor-length white gown, while her hair is coiffed in an elegant updo. The hazy background adds an ephemeral, dreamlike quality to the likeness, while the inclusion of a Grecian-inspired pot and a bunch of flowers provides additional natural beauty. Benson’s mastery of portraiture is evident, creating at once a snapshot of a bygone era and a timeless image of beauty.
Born on March 24, 1862, in Salem, Massachusetts, Frank Weston Benson began his artistic career at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 1880, under the guidance of Otto Grundmann. His early exposure to the Impressionist movement, coupled with visits to Paris, profoundly shaped his aesthetic sensibilities, fostering an experimental approach characterized by loose brushwork and a vibrant palette. Benson's oeuvre reflects a nuanced exploration of light and atmosphere, as exemplified in his renowned outdoor scenes. His mastery of portraiture is evidenced in works like Portrait of a Young Woman. His portraits are marked by a refined realism that immortalizes his subjects and provides a profound glimpse into the societal milieu of his time. Elected to the National Academy of Design in 1898, Benson later assumed the mantle of headmaster at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston from 1912 to 1913, and his pedagogical endeavors left an indelible mark on subsequent generations of artists. His artworks are held in esteemed museums worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum,
Dated 1912
