Portrait of Susan Ames

Maker Asa Ames (American, 1824 - 1851)

Additional Title(s)

Portrait of Nancy Ames Hogue

Collections

ClassificationsSCULPTURE

Dateca. 1849

Mediumcarved and painted pine

Dimensions35 × 10 × 10 in. (88.9 × 25.4 × 25.4 cm.)

DescriptionThis carving by Asa Ames was most likely executed in Evans, New York and is a portrait of the artist’s niece, Susan Ames. She is dressed in a blue dress with white pantaloons standing on a white pillow topped with a brick red cloth and scalloped blue trim. The dress is trimmed at the collar and the lower fringe in red. She wears a broad belt in red with a gold buckle around her waist. Her skin is off white and her eyes are bright blue. She has short yellow hair ending in tight curls in the back.

SignedOn the right proper side of the pillow is the inscription “Carv’d Dec. 1849” in a reserve edged in short gouges. Lower and to the right is a second reserve also edged in short gouges reading “A. Ames”.

Credit LineThe Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Gift of Jonathan and Karin Fielding

Label TextLittle was known about Asa Ames until the 1970s, when census records revealed that his occupation was “sculpting”; she resided in Erie County, New York, and he died at age twenty-seven, probably from tuberculosis. Only thirteen works have been securely attributed to him; many of these are of family members, like this portrait of his niece Susan. With the exception of figureheads on ships’ bows, carved full-length portraits in wood were extremely unusual. The artist has paid careful attention to such details as ears, eyelids, and hair texture - all of which are noticeable on this sculpture - perhaps a nod to the period’s obsession with physiognomy.

Status

On view

Object number2020.15.18