Henrietta Johnston Pastel Drawing on Paper of Mary Mundt

Item Details

An 18th-century pastel portrait on paper of Mary Mundt of Philadelphia by well-listed artist Henrietta Johnston (Ireland, South Carolina; 1670-1728). Facing the viewer, the work depicts Ms. Mundt in a slightly stiff half-length portrait. The dark background highlights her fashionably pale skin and gray hair. The paper has been mounted onto heavy-stock paper board, under glass, and in a gilt and wood frame. To the verso is a label naming the artist and sitter. Johnston often signed, named her sitters, and listed a location to the backs of her works. There were no visible signatures to the piece, however, the paper is partially mounted to the board, obstructing a full view of the paper verso.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Johnston would later emigrate to the colony of South Carolina with her second husband and two step-daughters. Her formal art education is unknown, but she is thought to be the student of Simon Bigby, a portrait artist and Bishop. Johnston is well-known for her pastel portraits, though few remain today. Throughout her turbulent life in harsh conditions of the colonies, she completed portraits for wealthy colonists. Pastels were not available at the time and were brought with her from Ireland. It is thought she used her portraits to help care for her debt-ridden family. Her portraits show a strong likeness in the face and stiff bodies. Likely, she sketched the faces of her model from life and completed the bodies in her studio.

Condition

- small holes in paper near figure’s ear and throat; water stains to paper near figure’s shoulder and along lower edge; paper mounted to board; scuffing to frame; item examined out of frame; item shifts inside frame.

Dimensions

- measures frame; sheet size 10" W x 14" H.

Item #

16NYC998-1253