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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1939.142
People
Thomas Sully, American (Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England 1783 - 1872 Philadelphia, PA)
Title
Palette for "Mother and Son;" verso: Sketch of Blanche Sully
Other Titles
Alternate Title: Thomas Sully's palette--a record of the colors he used in painting the portrait of his daughter Jane and her son T. Francis Darley at full-length; verso: Sketch of his daughter Blanche
Classification
Drawings
Work Type
drawing
Date
1840
Culture
American
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/307783

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Oil and black ink on cream card; verso: graphite
Dimensions
18.1 x 19.5 cm (7 1/8 x 7 11/16 in.)
Inscriptions and Marks
  • inscription: recto, black ink, in artist's hand: [Spots of color labelled:] Ivory black; ultramarine; Venetian red; Brown oker; Flake white; [Spots of color, each numbered] 1. Venetian red and white. 2. Ditto. 3. Brown oker, Venetian red, + white. 4. ditto. / 5. Chinese Vermilion. 6. Ditto & white. 7. Ultramarine & white. 8. Ultramarine / Burnt-terra-de-Sienna, + white. 9. Burnt terra-de-Sienna. 10. Ditto & Black. / 11. Indian red. / For finishing, add Asphaltum & madder lake. / NB sometimes I use Naples yellow instead of Brown oker, when the / lightness or purity of the complexion requires it. TS. / The above is the palette I used when painting / the Portrait of my daughter Jane Darley & Francis at full- / length. / Thos. Sully
  • inscription: l.r., graphite: 23
  • inscription: upper edge, graphite: 1844; 20
  • inscription: envelope [mounted with palette], blue ink: Thomas Sully's Palette Record of the / colors he used in painting the Portraits / of his daughter Jane and his son T. / Francis Darley [sic] at full length / Date 1844- / On the reverse a pencil sketch of the / head of Blanche Sully daughter of the / artist.

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Mrs. A. W. Sully, Brooklyn, New York. 102 Cambridge Place

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Friends of the Fogg Art Museum Fund
Accession Year
1939
Object Number
1939.142
Division
European and American Art
Contact
am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
This is Sully's palette for his portrait of his daughter, Jane Cooper Sully Darley, and her son, Francis Thomas Sully Darley, now at the Metropolitan Museum. The finished work is signed and dated 1840. The sketch on the back depicts Blanche Sully, another of the artist's daughters.

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of European and American Art at am_europeanamerican@harvard.edu