A while back, I asked a question about a possibly mythical dispute between two artists regarding a certain color. The putative result of that dispute has a "companion" in the U.S. museum in which it hangs, one by quite a different artist and from a later era but depicting a young lady related to a famous woman poet. What is the painting (under its best-known title), who was its young subject, and who was her celebrated relative?

queproblema

This is "Pinkie," by Thomas Lawrence. The subject, Sarah Barrett Moulton, became the aunt of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Barrett_Moulton:_%22Pinkie%22 I had the misfortune at about the age of ten of knocking over our little ceramic Pinkie on the music stand where she accompanied Blue Boy. One of her little ribbons broke and I was in the doghouse. Aug 25 07, 10:05 AM

lanfranco

"Pinkie" it is, qp, and I think I have a few silver paintbrushes left, if you want one. I didn't know for years that the subject was Elizabeth Barrett Browning's aunt. I like the way she gazes with such directness at the viewer. I rather think I'd like to have known her. As your site indicates, the association of "Pinkie" and "The Blue Boy" has become something of a cliche (you had ceramic figurines of both?), but they really are fine portraits and a pleasure to see at the beautiful Huntington Library and Art Collection. Aug 25 07, 4:15 PM

queproblema

Oh, hi! I was just reading Chicago weather reports and figured you were without power. I just learned today, thanks to you, about the Portuguese connection. And yes, ceramic figurines about six or seven inches high. I don't know what kind of ceramic--they weren't glazed or slick. I can't find anything similar online. Much finer and truer to the portraits than this. http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PINKIE-BLUE-BOY-PORCELAIN-FIGURINE-STATUE_W0QQitemZ120154000217QQihZ002QQcategoryZ63526QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting Maybe you should just throw me a bone... Aug 25 07, 4:36 PM

lanfranco

Oh, dear .... Aug 25 07, 5:04 PM

queproblema

Maybe not so fine, Lefton figurines, but better than those others. Scroll down about a third of the page and click on the link for a picture. http://www.replacements.com/webquote/CO_LEFMISF.htm Here's a Huntington site with the portraits and the sad detail that Sarah died shortly after her portrait was painted. http://www.huntington.org/ArtDiv/HuntingGall.html Aug 25 07, 5:06 PM