Ammi Phillips
American, 1788–1865
Portrait of Harriet Campbell
c. 1815
Harriet Campbell was seven years old when this portrait was painted, though her formal costume makes her appear older. Phillips was a successful itinerant artist, working in small towns along the borders of New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Unlike other early American painters, he was not trained in the European traditions of portraiture. Largely self-taught, he focused on capturing convincing likenesses and creating decorative color arrangements, often reusing poses and clothing.
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 48 1/2 x 25 in. (123.2 x 63.5 cm) Frame: 51 7/8 x 28 7/8 x 2 in. (131.8 x 73.3 x 5.1 cm) |
| Object Number | 1991.8 |
| Acquisition | Gift of Oliver Eldridge in memory of Sarah Fairchild Anderson, teacher of art, North Adams Public Schools, daughter of Harriet Campbell, 1991 |
| Status | On View |
Image Caption
Ammi Phillips, Portrait of Harriet Campbell, c. 1815, oil on canvas. Clark Art Institute, gift of Oliver Eldridge in memory of Sarah Fairchild Anderson, teacher of art, North Adams Public Schools, daughter of Harriet Campbell, 1991.8
Select Bibliography
Conner, Holly Pyne. Angels and Tomboys: Girlhood in 19th-Century American Art. Exhibition catalogue. Newark: The Newark Museum; San Francisco: Pomegranate Communications, 2012.
