1933.6 William Dunlap, Anna Hart, Mrs. Isaac Hull | DMA Staging Content Management System

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

This is the companion portrait for William Dunlap's Commodore Isaac Hull. While we do not know much about his wife, Anna Hart, we do know some information about her husband. Already a celebrated naval officer, Commodore Isaac Hull captured the nation's attention during the War of 1812, when the USS Constitution, under his command, battled and sank the British frigate Guerriere. These portraits do not emphasize Hull's heroism, as did other contemporary examples. Rather, they were undoubtedly family paintings meant to be enjoyed in private. The emphasis on Commodore and Mrs. Hull's appearance, as well as their bust-length compositions and neutral backgrounds, derive from William Dunlap's previous career as a miniaturist, since the small scale of portrait miniatures left little room for fanciful backgrounds.

Adapted from

William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label text, 2006

NOTES

after 1812

Object File reviewed

Was previously considered Unknown, then attributed to William Dunlap

From Newhouse Gallery letter from Clyde Newhouse to Louise Tietz March 7, 1975:

"I have checked our records and I find that we purchased the portraits of Commodore Hull and Mrs. Isaac Hull through the Griscom Galleries of Philadelphia, who advised us that they had acquired the paintings from a member of the Hull family, and that the authorship of the paintings had been traditionally given to William Dunlap. Other than this, we have no other supporting information."

Catalogue essays

Artist/designers

Dunlap, William (American, 1766-1839)

Cultures

Geography

Place of origin: United States (nation): TGN: 7012149

Process/materials

Oil on canvas

Historical periods

Individuals

Subject terms

RELATED OBJECTS

PROVENANCE

After 1812: Isaac Hull and thence by descent

n.d.: Griscom Galleries, Philadelphia

n.d.: B.M. Newhouse Galleries

From 1933: Dallas Museum of Art, gift of the B.M. Newhouse Galleries

AUDIO ASSETS

VIDEO ASSETS

IMAGE ASSETS

WEB RESOURCES

ARCHIVAL RESOURCES

FUN FACTS

TEACHING IDEAS

RULES

Apply to objects where number equals 1933.6

General Description

This is the companion portrait for William Dunlap's Commodore Isaac Hull. While we do not know much about his wife, Anna Hart, we do know some information about her husband. Already a celebrated naval officer, Commodore Isaac Hull captured the nation's attention during the War of 1812, when the USS Constitution, under his command, battled and sank the British frigate Guerriere. These portraits do not emphasize Hull's heroism, as did other contemporary examples. Rather, they were undoubtedly family paintings meant to be enjoyed in private. The emphasis on Commodore and Mrs. Hull's appearance, as well as their bust-length compositions and neutral backgrounds, derive from William Dunlap's previous career as a miniaturist, since the small scale of portrait miniatures left little room for fanciful backgrounds.