Existing comment:
James Tissot
Mrs. Newton with a Child by a Pool, ca 1877-78
Mothers with children were a very traditional subject in art beginning with Madonnas in the religious art of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. This painting is a sketch for a larger work (present location unknown) and was probably done en plein air (outdoors), as was the common practice of contemporary French Impressionists. The woman shown here was the artist's mistress and favorite model, Mrs. Kathleen Newton. |