Student Artwork Guide

Name Class Date

Thomas Wilmer Dewing, Alma. Public domain.

The facts

Artist: Thomas Wilmer Dewing topimpressionists.com/en/artists/thomas-wilmer-dewing/
Artist’s dates: 1851 – 1938
Movement: Tonalism Quiet landscapes wrapped in mist and shadow, built from a narrow range of closely related tones.

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Thomas Wilmer Dewing died in 1938; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2008.

Alma — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

When might this have been painted?

1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930

Shaded: the lifetime of Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Comedia, 1894 topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-comedia-8LT9DD-en/
Standing Figure with Outstretched Arm topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-standing-figure-with-outstretched-arm-D4BKRD-en/
Lilac Dress, 1919 topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-lilac-dress-D2Y8K9-en/

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-alma-8LT9DA-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

Main colour

Black #141014

Catalogued palette

#141014
#62430B
#372718
#C0800C

Palette: Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
Main colour name: Black
Intensity: Monochromatic How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
Contrast: Serene 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: Deep_shadow 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.

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

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

The artist Thomas Wilmer Dewing topimpressionists.com/en/artists/thomas-wilmer-dewing/
Similar works More works to compare topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-8LT9DA-en/

Find this online

QR code linking to the download page for Alma

topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-8LT9DA-en/

Cite this artwork

MLA: Dewing, Thomas Wilmer. Alma. n.d., https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-8LT9DA-en/
APA: Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (n.d.). Alma [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-8LT9DA-en/
Chicago: Thomas Wilmer Dewing. Alma. n.d. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-8LT9DA-en/
Harvard: Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (n.d.) Alma. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-8LT9DA-en/

Alma — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

Look closely

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

What catches your eye first, and why?
Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
How many faces can you find? ____ (our catalogue counts 1 — do you agree?)
Look back at Comedia (1894), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
Tonalism: Quiet landscapes wrapped in mist and shadow, built from a narrow range of closely related tones. Where can you see that in this work?

Your response

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