Artist: George Bernard Jr.
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Creation Year: c. 1875
Dimensions: 16 x 12 1/2 inches
Style: Figurative
Period: Late 19th Century
Condition: Excellent
Description: George Bernard Jr.’s Portrait of Mrs. Charles H. Miller stands as a quietly compelling example of late nineteenth-century American portraiture, merging academic precision with poetic restraint. Exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1875, the work presents Mrs. Miller in profile against a deep red background that enhances both her composure and luminosity. The simplicity of the composition—eschewing elaborate ornamentation—draws focus to the sitter’s classical features, serene expression, and the subtle modeling of light across her face. Bernard’s sensitive brushwork and muted palette evoke the influence of Renaissance portraiture, filtered through the refined realism of the American academic tradition. The portrait embodies both intimacy and idealization, capturing Mrs. Miller not merely as a likeness, but as a timeless emblem of grace and intellect within the cultured artistic circles of her era.
Artist: George Bernard Jr.
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Creation Year: c. 1875
Dimensions: 16 x 12 1/2 inches
Style: Figurative
Period: Late 19th Century
Condition: Excellent
Description: George Bernard Jr.’s Portrait of Mrs. Charles H. Miller stands as a quietly compelling example of late nineteenth-century American portraiture, merging academic precision with poetic restraint. Exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1875, the work presents Mrs. Miller in profile against a deep red background that enhances both her composure and luminosity. The simplicity of the composition—eschewing elaborate ornamentation—draws focus to the sitter’s classical features, serene expression, and the subtle modeling of light across her face. Bernard’s sensitive brushwork and muted palette evoke the influence of Renaissance portraiture, filtered through the refined realism of the American academic tradition. The portrait embodies both intimacy and idealization, capturing Mrs. Miller not merely as a likeness, but as a timeless emblem of grace and intellect within the cultured artistic circles of her era.
