Click on the painting to enlarge it.
In my previous blogs on the Detroit Institute of Arts, I’ve focused on the works of two “stars” of the museum, Diego Rivera and Van Gogh (see: December 9 and December 11). However, today I’m spotlighting the portrait of decidedly handsome Dr. Edward Hudson by American artist Thomas Sully (1783-1872), which could also be at the mercy of the city’s creditors.
Based mainly in Philadelphia, Sully immortalized a who’s who list of prominent figures of his day, from presidents John Quincy Adams and James K. Polk to American Revolution hero Marquis de Lafayette to reigning monarch Queen Victoria. And have you really looked at the $20 bill in your purse or wallet recently? You’ll discover Sully’s interpretation of Andrew Jackson on your hard earned money.
I personally prefer Dr. Hudson who resembles more a poet than a medical professional. For Sully, renowned for his sweeping brushstrokes and rich colors, has given him a dashing, almost Byronic appearance.*
Sully’s portrayal of Mrs. Hudson, done a few years later in 1814, can be found at the DIA too. Initially, both paintings belonged to family members; one of them, a grandson Thomas Sutherland from San Diego, has been identified. Somehow, the works ended up at the Macbeth Galley in New York in 1926, and then that same year were acquired by the museum (through a city purchase).
Enjoy a current exhibition on Sully’s career, click:
*Dr. Edward Hudson might have actually been a dentist in Philadelphia according to contemporary accounts.
Thomas Sully, Portrait of Dr. Edward Hudson, 1810, oil on canvas, Detroit Institute of Arts.
The above image is used solely for educational purposes.
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Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute….
A Perfect Gift for the Holidays
This has given me a new perspective regarding my daily habits. How I look at my path everyday when walking the Labrador is enhanced by noticing tree forms, some bark textures and even those fluffy white clouds hanging in the blue just as the Impressionists showed them.
Daena Kluegel
AVAILABLE VIA PAY PAL AND AMAZON!
