Frances Kemble Butler

Henry Inman

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Caption

Henry Inman American, 1801–1846. Frances Kemble Butler, ca. 1834. Oil on canvas, 34 1/4 x 27 3/16 in. (87 x 69 cm) frame: 43 1/2 × 36 3/8 in. (110.5 × 92.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Charles A. Schieren, 13.74. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 13.74_SL3.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

American Art

Title

Frances Kemble Butler

Date

ca. 1834

Medium

Oil on canvas

Classification

Painting

Dimensions

34 1/4 x 27 3/16 in. (87 x 69 cm) frame: 43 1/2 × 36 3/8 in. (110.5 × 92.4 cm)

Signatures

Unsigned

Credit Line

Gift of Charles A. Schieren

Accession Number

13.74

Rights

No known copyright restrictions

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Frequent Art Questions

  • I love this woman's face, but there is no biographical info about her on the label. Can you tell me more about her?

    Absolutely! The woman here is Fanny Kemble, a very famous stage actress of the time. This painting of her was done shortly after her marriage to Pierce Butler, hence the title "Frances Kemble Butler." Fanny Kemble would later divorce her husband due to his ownership of slaves.
    Good for her! No wonder I liked her! I had certainly heard of her, but had no idea this was she. Maybe this info should be added to the label!
  • Hi there! Sure! Frances Kemble Butler, also known as Fanny Kemble, was a very popular actress in the early 19th century. She was British, but spent the period of her life from 1832 to 1843 in the United States. There is no evidence that Mrs. Butler actually sat for Inman. This portrait is likely based on a print of an earlier portrait of her.

    The artist, Henry Inman, was a high-profile portrait painter active in New York and Philadelphia.
    Awesome, thank you!

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