Miss C. Parsons as "The Lady of the Lake", Thomas Sully

Artwork Overview

Thomas Sully, Miss C. Parsons as "The Lady of the Lake"
Thomas Sully, Miss C. Parsons as "The Lady of the Lake"
Thomas Sully
Miss C. Parsons as "The Lady of the Lake"
1812
Thomas Sully, artist
1783–1872
Miss C. Parsons as "The Lady of the Lake", 1812
Where object was made: United States
Material/technique: canvas; oil
Dimensions:
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 127 x 101.6 cm
Canvas/Support (Height x Width x Depth): 50 x 40 in
Credit line: Museum purchase through The Kansas University Endowment Association
Accession number: 1954.0117
Not on display
Add to portfolio

If you wish to reproduce this image, please submit an image request

Images

Label texts

Sir Walter Scott’s romantic poem set in the 16th-century Scottish Highlands, “The Lady of the Lake,” inspired stage adaptations in England and America almost immediately upon its publication in 1810. Philadelphia’s New Theatre debuted its melodrama in 1812, with Miss Caroline Parsons starring as Lady Ellen Douglas. Some stanzas of Scott’s poem, including the line “Hail to the Chief” were set to music for these adaptations. The song, “March and Chorus, ‘Hail to the Chief,’ in the Dramatic Romance of The Lady of the Lake,” was also published in 1812, and would be associated with America’s presidents by 1815.

Exhibition Label:
"This Land," Oct-2014, Kate Meyer
Sir Walter Scott’s romantic poem set in the 16th-century Scottish Highlands, “The Lady of the Lake,” inspired stage adaptations in England and America almost immediately upon its publication in 1810. Philadelphia’s New Theatre debuted its melodrama in 1812, with Miss Caroline Parsons starring as Lady Ellen Douglas. Some stanzas of Scott’s poem, including the line “Hail to the Chief” were set to music for these adaptations. The song, “March and Chorus, ‘Hail to the Chief,’ in the Dramatic Romance of The Lady of the Lake,” was also published in 1812, and would be associated with America’s presidents by 1815.

Exhibition Label:
"Corpus," Apr-2012, Kris Ercums
This striking image combines portraiture with a full dramatic scene, linking the sitter to a rich and complex social world. Miss C. Parsons is portrayed as the title role of The Lady of the Lake, the wildly popular melodrama based on the poem by Sir Walter Scott of 1810. This portrait shows the Lady in a moment of heightened tension, listening to the Knight of Snowden’s hunting bugle before entering a foreboding chasm, her hand raised in attention and wisps of her hair blowing in the wind. Conveying a complex narrative rather than a mere portrait, the sitter is acting and acting out, rather than passively being portrayed. This type of work was intended to flatter the sitter, and to elevate her social standing to be on a par with great characters in literature.

Archive Label:
Thomas Sully was deemed "the prince of American portrait painters" by his contemporary William Dunlap, an historian. A prolific painter, Sully produced some 2,000 portraits from his Philadelphia studio during his 71-year career. This is one of Sully's early works.

Painted in 1812 as a commission for a Philadelphia patron of the arts, Mr. James McMurtrie, it reflects the contemporary interest in the theater production of Lady of the Lake, a melodrama based on Sir Walter Scott's poem of the same title. Miss C. Parsons appeared in the title role in this production, which exulted high moral values. Sully has captured her at the dramatic moment when she hears a blast from the Knight of Snowden's hunting bugle and pauses briefly before entering a foreboding chasm.

Sully has heightened the emotional quality by juxtaposing the warm reds and golds of a sunset in the chasm. The Lady's virginal, idealized beauty and statuesque pose perhaps indicates Sully's interest in Classical aesthetics.

Exhibitions

This Land
Kate Meyer, curator
2014–2015
Nineteenth Century American Paintings
1974
From the Collection of the University of Kansas
1971
Art Across America
1960

Resources

Audio

Didactic – Art Minute
Didactic – Art Minute
Episode 170. I’m David Cateforis with another Art Minute from the Spencer Museum of Art. Thomas Sully, the English-born American best known for his portraiture, painted Miss C. Parsons as the Lady of the Lake in 1812. The fifty-inch high canvas depicts the actress, Miss Caroline Parsons, in the title role of Ellen Douglas. Clad in a white gown and standing in her small boat before a narrow chasm filled with rocks and foliage, she bends her head slightly to hear a far distant blast from the Knight of Snowden’s hunting bugle. The Lady’s idealized beauty and statuesque pose highlight Sully’s interest in classical aesthetics. Commissioned by James McMurtie in March of 1812, the painting not only draws inspiration from Sir Walter Scott’s 1810 poem The Lady of the Lake but also from the theatrical performance given in Philadelphia at the Chestnut Street Theatre on New Year’s Day 1812. Sully was born into a theatrical family and his interest in the theater is most evident in his early work. A year before painting the Spencer canvas, Sully produced full-length portraits of two popular actors: William Burke Wood and George Frederick Cooke as Richard II. With thanks to Jayme Johnson for her text, from the Spencer Museum of Art, I’m David Cateforis.
Audio Tour – Bulldog Podcast
Audio Tour – Bulldog Podcast
Where is she going? What awaits her beyond that ominous cavern? This painting is a puzzle; something mysterious and clandestine seems to be occurring. The warm, soft colors of the woman and the mountains contrast the frigorific black and grey of the chasm. This painting tells a story of rebellion and exile. The master of this piece is Thomas Sully, who lived from 1783 to 1872. He was born in England, but lived mostly in the United States. This piece, Miss C. Parsons as the Lady of the Lake, was created in 1812 with oil paints on canvas. Sully was interested in a more Classical look, as shown in the modest way he painted the woman. This painting was based on a play, and the play was based on a poem by Sir Walter Scott. The story was about a Scottish girl named Ellen. She and her clan were banished from their kingdom. They were visited by a knight who gave Ellen a special ring. Ellen went back to the kingdom and used the ring to obtain pardon for her family. Then, Ellen found out that the knight who loved her was actually the king, but she married another man instead. Does this story give any clue as to what the painting is about? Ellen is running from the sound of the king’s hunting horn. Is this during the part of the story where her family is banished? Is she running from her many suitors? What is the white glow behind her? Why does she look back? Maybe Ellen is expecting someone. Maybe not. So what about the first question? Where is she going? Well, what do you think? This has been Summer with another Bulldog Podcast.