Christiana Stille Keen 1768 - 1770

Editor: We’re looking at Matthew Pratt's "Christiana Stille Keen," painted between 1768 and 1770. It's an oil painting, a portrait really. What strikes me is the color palette - the juxtaposition of the darker background with the light dress and the pastel blues and pinks of the sash is so striking. What do you make of the composition of this painting? Curator: The composition is quite interesting. Note how Pratt utilizes the drapery in the upper right to create depth, contrasting against the flatness of the darker backdrop to set the foreground in its isolated visual field. What do you think of the model's positioning? Editor: She is in profile, so there is not as much engagement. It directs the viewer's attention to the details of her dress and the flowers she is wearing. It's a rather detached perspective, don’t you think? Curator: Precisely. Now, if we consider the tonal variations, you'll observe the interplay of light and shadow, carefully constructed by Pratt. The model’s profile accentuates the flatness. Would you call the model picturesque? How might her features reflect the artistic or aesthetic interests that existed then? Editor: The profile seems quite classicized in its simplicity. Pratt has definitely created an object of beauty through his treatment of texture and shape, and in so doing elevated her into someone with historical permanence, a relic that echoes through time. Thank you, this painting seems more compelling to me now that you have described how each detail interrelates to another. Curator: Indeed. Considering each element is integral to understanding the portrait.