Painting: Portrait of a woman with white cap and red shawl, ca. 1847
1847 – 1850 (Date manufactured/created)
oil on canvas
Measurement Notes: 33 1/2x28
Oil portrait of a woman, about thirty years of age, with light gold-brown hair, pale grey eyes, and wearing a white, lace trimmed cap, and a black dress with deep V-neckline and long, tight sleeves. The portrait dates from about 1847; the artist (British) is unknown. The subject was thought to be Jenny Lind, however that is improbable. The dress is decorated with a large pink rose on the bosom, near the base of the V, where black ribbons crisscross to form a decorative closure. A transparent lace collar, part of the delicate chemise undergarment that shows under the crisscrossed ribbons, is overlaid on the black dress. The woman's hands are crossed, and reveal a ring on her left ring finger. A deep red shawl is draped over her proper right arm, goes around her back and to her left, where is can be seen as a background to her left arm. Her head is slightly turned to gaze off to her left, and this pose shows the wavy texture of her golden-brown hair. Her skin color is quite fair. Although the previous owner, a Canadian, believed this was a portrait of Jenny Lind, the Swedish opera singer whom Barnum made famous in America, (and for this reason the portrait was bequeathed to the Barnum Museum), it does not really resemble Miss Lind. The time period and fashions correspond to Jenny Lind's era, but there is little about the physical appearance to suggest it is her. In the opinion of the conservator who examined the piece, the portrait is very likely English.
Gift of the Estate of Martyn Norris
2010.005.001