Portrait of Lucy Lee-Robbins
Artist
Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran
(French, 1838-1917)
Date1884
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions66 3/4 x 48 in. (169.5 x 121.9 cm)
Overall, Frame: 80 5/8 x 63 1/4 x 3 3/8 in. (204.8 x 160.7 x 8.6 cm)
Overall, Frame: 80 5/8 x 63 1/4 x 3 3/8 in. (204.8 x 160.7 x 8.6 cm)
ClassificationsEuropean art
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number71.627
Terms
- Woman
Collections
On View
On viewLabel TextEmile Auguste Carolus-Duran French, 1838–1917 Portrait of Lucy Lee-Robbins, 1884 Oil on canvas Try tilting your head as far to the side as this sitter. The flamboyant gesture is hard to hold for long, suggesting Lucy Lee-Robbins’ unconventional spirit. Born in America, Lee-Robins moved from New York to France when she was an infant. Determined to become a painter, she enrolled in a private art school run by Carolus-Duran in 1880. His portrait of Lee-Robins radiates a confident informality rarely seen in grand portraits at the time. The pose, direct gaze, and subtle details—like the glimpse of red lining, an extended ankle, and a fallen pink flower petal—convey the energy and self-assurance of this independent young woman. Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.627