Artist:
Jefferson David Chalfant
(American, 1856 - 1931)
Sitter:
Mary du Pont
Portrait of Miss Mary du Pont
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1906
Dimensions:
17 × 22 in. (43.2 × 55.9 cm)
Accession number: 80.1
Label Copy:
For over twenty years, J. D. Chalfant was enormously successful as a painter of trompe l’oeil and genre until popular interest in such subjects declined. In 1907 he turned his attention to painting portraits of members of Wilmington, Delaware, society.
Chalfant’s portrait of Mary du Pont reveals her reported staunch, implacable presence. Proud of her powerful family lineage and comfortable life style, she is said to have required that the artist depict her in her private sitting room seated next to her electric lamp, a new and expensive innovation at the time.
With his genre subjects, the artist made extensive use of the camera as a tool to record the placement of figures and props. From photographs he made preparatory pencil studies and then his final paintings. Although a photograph corresponding to the pose and setting of the painting of Mary du Pont has not been discovered, the Museum’s collection includes a pencil drawing that matches the scale of the final oil.
For over twenty years, J. D. Chalfant was enormously successful as a painter of trompe l’oeil and genre until popular interest in such subjects declined. In 1907 he turned his attention to painting portraits of members of Wilmington, Delaware, society.
Chalfant’s portrait of Mary du Pont reveals her reported staunch, implacable presence. Proud of her powerful family lineage and comfortable life style, she is said to have required that the artist depict her in her private sitting room seated next to her electric lamp, a new and expensive innovation at the time.
With his genre subjects, the artist made extensive use of the camera as a tool to record the placement of figures and props. From photographs he made preparatory pencil studies and then his final paintings. Although a photograph corresponding to the pose and setting of the painting of Mary du Pont has not been discovered, the Museum’s collection includes a pencil drawing that matches the scale of the final oil.
Curatorial RemarksFor much of his career, Chalfant painted genre scenes and still lifes. In the early 1900s, he turned to portraiture and depicted members of many prominent Wilmington families. As with his genre scenes, Chalfant photographed his subjects as an aid to the creation of a pencil studies and the final paintings. Existing photographs of Mary du Pont in her parlor, very likely taken by Chalfant, testify to the artist's working methods and the sitter's particular preference for this pose.
The subject of this work, Mary Van dyke du Pont (1826-1909), wears a plain but well made garment trimmed with lace at the wrists and neck. She presents a forthright demeanor. As a descendent of Éleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) who founded the gun powder industry in America, she belonged to one of the most powerful and wealthy families in the country.
In this portrait, she appears in an informal setting that suggests simple domestic pursuits: knitting, reading, and sorting the daily mail. On a desk nearby, an electric lamp at the time is the only material object to reflect her economic status.;Portrait depicts Mary Van Dyke du Pont (b. Apr. 19, 1825, d. Sept. 25, 1909), daughter of Charles Irenee du Pont (1979-1869) and his first wife Dorcas Montgomery Van Dyke du Pont (1806-1888). Mary du Pont was granddaughter of Victor Marie du Pont (1767-1872) whose brother was E. I. du Pont.
The subject of this work, Mary Van dyke du Pont (1826-1909), wears a plain but well made garment trimmed with lace at the wrists and neck. She presents a forthright demeanor. As a descendent of Éleuthère Irénée du Pont (1771-1834) who founded the gun powder industry in America, she belonged to one of the most powerful and wealthy families in the country.
In this portrait, she appears in an informal setting that suggests simple domestic pursuits: knitting, reading, and sorting the daily mail. On a desk nearby, an electric lamp at the time is the only material object to reflect her economic status.;Portrait depicts Mary Van Dyke du Pont (b. Apr. 19, 1825, d. Sept. 25, 1909), daughter of Charles Irenee du Pont (1979-1869) and his first wife Dorcas Montgomery Van Dyke du Pont (1806-1888). Mary du Pont was granddaughter of Victor Marie du Pont (1767-1872) whose brother was E. I. du Pont.