Portrait of Emily Warren Roebling

Charles-Émile-Auguste Carolus-Duran

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Object Label

A Brooklyn Power Couple
Washington and Emily Roebling, like many eminent Americans, had their likenesses painted by leading French portraitists. Washington, who served as the chief engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, is depicted seated before a window overlooking the landmark. When he fell ill during construction, Emily assumed all on-site responsibilities and was the first to cross the bridge, in 1883.

Emily Roebling was honored at the bridge’s opening ceremony, and her celebrity later extended beyond Brooklyn. She wore the elaborate dress she wears here at her presentation at court in St. James’s Palace in London and at the crowning of the czar and czarina in Moscow.

Caption

Charles-Émile-Auguste Carolus-Duran (French, 1838–1917). Portrait of Emily Warren Roebling, 1896. Oil on canvas, 89 × 47 1/2 in., 214 lb. (226.1 × 120.7 cm, 97.07kg) frame: 103 x 62 x 6 in. (261.6 x 157.5 x 15.2 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Paul Roebling, 1994.69.1. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Frequent Art Questions

How long does it take to paint a picture like this?
Because of the scale of this work, it would take at least a few days to a week if it was all the artist was working on at the time
If many sittings were required to complete a detailed undersketch and layers of paint needed to dry in between, it could take up to months! It depends a lot on the specific artists process.
If one puts a glass onto a painting, can't mold develop between the two surfaces? Is there a maintainable procedure to keep the paintings in good condition?
I believe our conservators frame the paintings in such a way so as to create a seal so that moisture and humidity do not develop, leading to mold. The glass creates a micro-climate.
If you look in some of our objects in glass cases, you'll notice a strip of paper with various colors that the conservators use to monitor the conditions for these cased objects.
Is this a queen?
This lady was named Emily Roebling. She was not a queen but guess what! She wore this yellow dress when she went to meet Queen Victoria of England! She was invited to meet the queen because she successfully oversaw the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Tell me more.
This is a portrait of Emily Roebling. When her husband fell ill during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, she assumed all on-site responsibility.
She is pictured here in the dress she work to meet Queen Victoria. You'll notice that she is only wearing one glove. this is because when a woman was being present to the Queen at court, you would take her hand in your bare one to kiss it.
That's really cool!
When was Emily Roebling presented at Court of St. James and in Moscow?
Mrs. Roebling attended the coronation of Tsar Nikolai II in 1894, two years before she met Queen Victoria in London in 1896.
She is shown in the portrait with a single glove removed, the way she would have been presented to Queen Victoria.
Was this portrait made in France or NY?
This portrait was painted in Paris. Mrs. Roebling visited Carolus-Duran’s studio there on the same trip as when she met with Queen Victoria in London. She had this gown made for the occasion.