Portrait of Eliza Ann and Adelia Dusenberry 1838

This double portrait by the New York artist Orlando Hand Bears (1811-1851) is filled with many fascinating details. What stands out to you at first glance? Two sisters with neat brown hair are seated on wooden chairs in an outdoor setting. They wear luxurious silk dresses in a deep petrol blue colour. This simple shade symbolises sophistication and status. These fantastic dresses are prime examples of late 1830s American fashion, with wide off-the-shoulder necklines, fitted waists, and gigantic sleeves. The sleeves puff out at the shoulder before tapering after the elbow – a style known as ‘leg-of-mutton’! In between the two young women sits a basket that is stuffed with an abundance of seashells. It was common for wealthy ladies to collect shells as a pastime in the nineteenth century. The shells have been painted with intricate detail. The vibrant shades of pink, blue, and yellow inject energy into the otherwise muted colour palette. On the left side of the composition is Eliza Ann Dusenberry. A year older than her sister Adelia, Eliza Ann holds a piece of coral. Painted in pure white, the coral is a symbol of balance and purity. Both sisters rest their arms on a wooden chest of drawers, called a commode. Constructed in rich mahogany wood with brass handles, the commode connotes stability and quality. Every aspect of this painting has been considered to communicate a sense of wealth and elegance. The artist specialised in allegorical portraiture, and was often commissioned by wealthy shipping merchants. The Dusenberrys were one such affluent family in New York. In the background, Hand Bears has included a fantastical and idealised landscape scene. This is an unconventional choice for nineteenth century portraiture. The dusky pink light provides a dreamlike atmosphere. What strikes you most about this painting? Do you find anything especially interesting? 👇 Editor: Lucy Jude Grantham