Helen Jackson Cabot Almy (Mrs. Charles Almy) c. 1890

Curator: Lilla Cabot Perry painted this portrait of Helen Jackson Cabot Almy, or Mrs. Charles Almy, as she was known then. The piece now resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My immediate feeling is a sense of quiet dignity, despite the somber palette. It is almost like the painting emits a sense of calm, which really pulls me in. Curator: It's interesting you say that. Perry was known for her impressionistic landscapes, but there's a distinct realism here. The brushstrokes are visible, but not as loose as one might expect. Editor: Precisely! The darkness of her dress and the restrained brushwork around the face create a formal contrast. Curator: Yet the subtle blush on her cheeks gives the portrait a touch of humanity. Editor: Yes, and the composition has a very classical feel, like the portraits of the Renaissance masters, which really brings the whole piece together. Curator: Absolutely. It's a captivating portrait that blends formality with subtle hints of the subject's inner life. Editor: A wonderful example of how technique and feeling come together.