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Student Artwork Guide

Alma

Name Class Date

Thomas Wilmer Dewing, Alma (1900). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Thomas Wilmer Dewing topimpressionists.com/en/artists/thomas-wilmer-dewing/
Artist’s dates
1851 – 1938
Painted
1900
Original size
51 x 40 cm

In context

Alma — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

How big is it?

The original measures 51 × 40 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

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 87 at death.

Painted when the artist was 49. The artist lived to 87. 39 of the 70 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Thomas Wilmer Dewing (1851–1938) ▲ this work, 1900 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1890 Main working years: 1890–1907 Late works: from 1907

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

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-alma-AQZHCL-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Bronze #be8006

    Catalogued palette

    • #BE8006
    • #633E0C
    • #13120A
    • #32240A

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Bronze
    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.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Thomas Wilmer Dewing over the last twelve months — 7 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 75.6%
    2. 2 United States of America 9.8%
    3. 3 Hong Kong 4.9%
    4. 4 Japan 2.4%
    5. 5 Malaysia 2.4%
    6. 6 Poland 2.4%
    7. 7 Singapore 2.4%

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    1. 1 The Recitation 16.3%
    2. 2 BeforeAMirror, 1910 8.2%
    3. 3 The Song, 1891 6.1%
    4. 4 Lady with a Cello 4.1%
    5. 5 The Hermit Thrush, 1893 4.1%
    6. 6 Green and Gold 4.1%
    7. 7 Woman in a Blue Dress 4.1%
    8. 8 Mrs. Delancey Kane (Eleanora A. Iselin) (ca. 1851 1938), (painting), 1888 4.1%
    9. 9 Music, 1895 2.0%
    10. 10 Lady in White (No. 1), 1910 2.0%
    11. 11 Summer (also known as Moonrise), 1893 2.0%
    12. 12 The Pink Dress, 1894 2.0%
    13. 13 A Reading, 1897 2.0%
    14. 14 In the Garden, 1894 2.0%
    15. 15 The Hermit Thrush, 1890 2.0%
    16. 16 Lady in Blue, 1910 2.0%
    17. 17 The Song and the Cello, 1910 2.0%
    18. 18 Portrait of a Lady, 1895 2.0%
    19. 19 Woman in Pink 2.0%
    20. — Alma, 1900 this painting 0.0%

    Together these works take 73.1% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 115 works by this artist, of which 32 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    About this artwork

    Alma — Thomas Wilmer Dewing

    The painting Alma by Thomas Wilmer Dewing is a stunning example of American Tonalism and Impressionism. Created in the late 19th century, this oil on wood piece measures 20 x 15 5/8 inches and is now part of the collection at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. As a professional art expert and salesman at https://AllPaintingsStore.com, I can appreciate the beauty and significance of this artwork.

    The Artist and His Style

    Thomas Wilmer Dewing was an American painter born in 1851 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is known for his captivating portraits of women, often depicted in dreamy and lunar atmospheres. Dewing's style is characterized by the use of muted colors and soft brushstrokes, which create a sense of intimacy and elegance. His work is heavily influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the École de Barbizon, as seen in his emphasis on atmosphere and shadows.

    The Painting "Alma"

    The painting Alma is a beautiful representation of Dewing's style. The subject, a woman with long hair, is dressed in a green dress and appears to be posing for the portrait. Her face is prominently displayed in the center of the painting, and her hair cascades down her back. The background of the painting features a darker shade of green, which contrasts with the lighter tones of the woman's dress. This creates a sense of depth and dimensionality, drawing the viewer's eye to the subject.

    The use of oil on wood as the medium for this painting adds to its unique texture and appearance.

    The muted colors used in the painting create a sense of calmness and serenity, which is characteristic of Dewing's style.

    The soft brushstrokes used to depict the subject's hair and dress add to the overall sense of elegance and refinement.

    Handmade oil painting reproductions of Alma are available for purchase on https://AllPaintingsStore.com, allowing art lovers to own a piece of history. For more information on Thomas Wilmer Dewing and his work, visit https://AllPaintingsStore.com or check out the Wikipedia page on the artist: /art/list/?Filter=AQZHB6-Thomas-Wilmer-Dewing-Alma-(painting).

    The Smithsonian American Art Museum is also a great resource for learning more about American art and artists, including Thomas Wilmer Dewing. Visit their website to explore their collection and learn more about the history of American art. /art/list/?Filter=AQR9QU-Johan-Krouthen-Lea

    In conclusion, the painting Alma by Thomas Wilmer Dewing is a beautiful example of American Tonalism and Impressionism. Its unique style and captivating subject make it a must-see for art lovers, and its availability as a handmade oil painting reproduction on https://AllPaintingsStore.com makes it accessible to everyone.

    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 Alma

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

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer. Alma. 1900, https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-AQZHCL-en/
    APA
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1900). Alma [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-AQZHCL-en/
    Chicago
    Thomas Wilmer Dewing. Alma. 1900. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-AQZHCL-en/
    Harvard
    Dewing, Thomas Wilmer (1900) Alma. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/thomas-wilmer-dewing-alma-AQZHCL-en/

    Look closely

    Alma — 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 49 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.

    Questions & Answers

    Is a download available for "Alma"?

    A download is available for "Alma": the artwork's Download page offers a high-resolution digital image download.

    What was Thomas Wilmer Dewing's age when "Alma" was created?

    Thomas Wilmer Dewing made "Alma" at the age of 49. The artist was born in 1851 and the work is dated 1900.

    Are the colors of "Alma" by Thomas Wilmer Dewing saturated or muted?

    The palette of "Alma" is subtle color in saturation.