Paper

Student Artwork Guide

A Reading

Name Class Date

Thomas Wilmer Dewing, A Reading (1897). Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Thomas Wilmer Dewing topimpressionists.com/en/artists/thomas-wilmer-dewing/
Artist’s dates
1851 – 1938
Painted
1897
Original size
51 x 77 cm

In context

A Reading — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

How big is it?

The original measures 51 × 77 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1850
  2. 1860
  3. 1870
  4. 1880
  5. 1890
  6. 1900
  7. 1910
  8. 1920
  9. 1930

Shaded: the lifetime of Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938) ▲ this work, 1897

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/thomas-wilmer-dewing-a-reading-AQZHCN-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Sap Green #555f4d

    Catalogued palette

    • #555F4D
    • #202D25
    • #979B7D
    • #7B806A
    Main colour name
    Sap Green
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Gentle How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Bright How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Subtle Color How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    About this artwork

    A Reading — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    The painting A Reading by Thomas Wilmer Dewing is a beautiful example of American art from the late 19th century. Created in 1897, this oil on canvas piece measures 20 1/4 x 30 1/4 in. and is currently housed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The painting depicts two women sitting at a table, engaged in conversation or reading, surrounded by elegant furnishings and a vase of flowers.

    The Artist and His Style

    Thomas Wilmer Dewing was an American painter known for his portraits and figurative works. His style is characterized by soft colors, delicate brushstrokes, and a focus on capturing the subtleties of human emotion. In A Reading, Dewing's use of light and shadow creates a sense of intimacy and warmth, drawing the viewer into the quiet moment shared by the two women.

    Similar Paintings and Artists

    Other paintings that explore similar themes of domesticity and femininity can be found on AllPaintingsStore.com, such as The Things That Are Caesar's by Claude Buck and Illustration: Alice Reading by Lucie Ritter Marcus. These works showcase the talent of American artists in capturing the nuances of everyday life and the beauty of the human experience.

    Ernest Clifford Peixotto's Oriskany is another example of American art from the same period, available on AllPaintingsStore.com.

    The Smithsonian American Art Museum also features works by other notable American artists, including Ivan Kuzmich Makarov and Claude Buck.

    Handmade oil painting reproductions of A Reading and other famous artworks can be found on AllPaintingsStore.com, allowing art lovers to own a piece of history and beauty. For more information on the artist and his works, visit Wikipedia.

    The captivating painting A Reading by Thomas Wilmer Dewing is a testament to the beauty of American art and the talent of its artists. Its serene and intimate atmosphere invites viewers to step into the quiet moment shared by the two women, surrounded by elegance and refinement.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    Born in Boston, United States of America

    **early life and training**

    thomas wilmer dewing, an american painter, was born on may 4, 1851, in boston, massachusetts. his artistic journey began with a lithographic apprenticeship, which later led him to the prestigious académie julian in paris, where he studied under gustave boulanger and jules lefebvre starting from 1887.

    **artistic style and notable works**

    dewing's artistic style is characterized by his tonalist paintings, a genre deeply rooted in english aestheticism. his preferred subjects were aristocratic women, often depicted in moody, dreamlike surroundings, playing instruments or engaging in introspective activities. woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing (1887), a poignant oil on panel, showcases his wife, an accomplished painter with extensive formal art training. *lady in gold* (1912), now at the brooklyn museum, exemplifies his mastery of capturing the essence of his subjects.

    **teaching and associations**

    dewing was a founding member of the ten american painters in 1898 and taught at the art students league of new york. his association with the society of landscape painters, founded in 1899, further solidified his position within the tonalist movement.

    **legacy and collections**

    * the freer gallery of art at the smithsonian institution has a dedicated room for dewing's works. * notable collectors include john gellatly and charles lang freer.

    view thomas wilmer dewing's collection on AllPaintingsStore

    more on thomas dewing at wikipedia

    explore the freer gallery of art at the smithsonian institution for more tonalist masterpieces.

    **later life and death**

    dewing's artistic output declined after 1920. he passed away in new york on november 5, 1938, leaving behind a legacy of captivating, ethereal portraits that continue to intrigue art enthusiasts. *key works and collections available for reproduction at AllPaintingsStore: the white dress woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing lady in gold discover the world's most famous paintings with AllPaintingsStore's extensive collection

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for A Reading

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/thomas-wilmer-dewing-a-reading-AQZHCN-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer. A Reading. 1897, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-a-reading-AQZHCN-en/
    APA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1897). A Reading [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-a-reading-AQZHCN-en/
    Chicago
    Thomas Wilmer Dewing. A Reading. 1897. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-a-reading-AQZHCN-en/
    Harvard
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1897) A Reading. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-a-reading-AQZHCN-en/

    Look closely

    A Reading — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Look back at Comedia (1894), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    4. Thomas Wilmer Dewing was about 46 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?
    5. What might the artist have wanted you to feel?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.