The artwork titled “The Honorable Laura Lister,” created by the esteemed artist John Singer Sargent around the year 1896, is an oil painting on canvas epitomizing the Realism art movement. This portrait measures 171.5 by 114.3 centimeters and is housed in the Fogg Museum at Harvard Art Museums in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
In the composition, the young subject, presumably the Honorable Laura Lister, is depicted standing beside a stone pedestal adorned with an ornate urn. The dark and muted color palette is masterfully manipulated to highlight her delicate features and elaborate attire. Her solemn yet composed expression is further emphasized by the glow of her fair complexion against the darker background, a technique characteristic of Sargent’s refined portraiture style. The attire, featuring a black dress with a white lace collar and transparent sleeves, meticulously captures the texture and form, underpinning the artist’s commitment to realism.
