Anders Zorn (Mora, 1860 - 1920, Mora)
Study for Isabella Gardner III, 1894
Graphite on wove paper, 25.7 x 20.6 cm (10 1/8 x 8 1/8 in.)
This sketch is a portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner. She is dressed elegantly and seated in a Savonarola chair. On the left side of the drawing is a vertical curtain. Atop Gardner’s head, centered on her tightly pulled back hair is a peacock shaped wispy headdress. Her face is light, but shadows fall on her long thin nose and the left side of her face. Her open eyes stare up to the viewer’s right. Her lips are open revealing her teeth. She wears a large collared fur cape with a pleated bottom that stiffly drapes over the back of the chair to the viewer’s right. Her elbows rest upon the arms of the large chair. Her long sleeved dress is tight across her waist, the bodice comes to a point, meeting her hands that lay upon her lap. Her feet are crossed to the viewer's right wearing ankle-high shoes with a thick heel.
Short Gallery
Commentary
Zorn was unhappy with this preparatory sketch for his etching of Gardner and softened the composition slightly by positioning Gardner off-center and turning her more to the side.
Source: Anders Zorn: A European Artist Seduces America, special exhibition on view in the museum's Hostetter Gallery, February 28 – May, 2013.
Source: Anders Zorn: A European Artist Seduces America, special exhibition on view in the museum's Hostetter Gallery, February 28 – May, 2013.