Child Asleep 1841

Thomas Sully painted this image of a sleeping child in the style of early 19th Century America. It invites us to consider the role of sentimentality in the construction of childhood. Sully, a successful portrait painter, captures a seemingly intimate moment. But this is not simply a candid snapshot. The child's idealized features, soft lighting, and the symbolic rose, all contribute to a carefully constructed image, designed to evoke feelings of tenderness. We might explore the influence of the burgeoning Romantic movement on American portraiture, looking at how artists sought to capture not just likeness but also emotion. Portraits of children became increasingly popular during this period as social attitudes toward childhood began to shift, particularly within the middle and upper classes. This work, therefore, can be considered in light of the changing social values and domestic arrangements of its time. Through careful study of the artist's biography, and analysis of the visual language, we can start to understand the dialogue between art and its cultural context.