Portrait of a Woman (Judith Colman Bulfinch?)

Portrait of a Woman (Judith Colman Bulfinch?) by John Smibert: The appearance of a professionally trained British painter in the American colonies in 1729…

What to notice

In Portrait of a Woman (Judith Colman Bulfinch?), start with classical, portrait, figurative. Then look closely at this museum-described detail: Smibert not only imported the skills necessary to convey the impression of substantial, rounded forms in a picture, but his commercial success also inspired others to contemplate careers as…

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The appearance of a professionally trained British painter in the American colonies in 1729 marks a curcial point in the history of American art. Smibert not only imported the skills necessary to convey the impression of substantial, rounded forms in a picture, but his commercial success also inspired others to contemplate careers as painters. Born in Edinburgh and schooled in London and Italy, Smibert attracted numerous clients upon his arrival in Boston.