Catalogue Entry
Johnson continued drawing portraits in charcoal after he arrived in Europe. However, the currently located charcoal portrait drawings of American women friends were all executed in The Hague, and those portraits returned to the United States. Similar to the situation of the commissioned charcoal portraits of men, those works of European women remained in Europe. —PH
MacGibeny, 2022: Previously, the subject of this portrait and the related portrait at the Princeton University Art Museum was identified as Polly Gary, Polly Garry, and Polly Garey. She was reidentified as Polly Carter in the catalogue of the Laura P. Hall Memorial Collection that donated its drawing to Princeton, though the specific reason is unknown.
This portrait owned by the Addison Gallery of American Art is inscribed "Polly Garry." The version owned by Princeton is inscribed "Polly Garey." Since both inscriptions are likely in Johnson's hand and the inscription on the Princeton drawing is written more clearly, it seems possible that Johnson inscribed the Addison Gallery version in haste, and "Garey" is accepted here as the spelling more likely to be correct. See the linked image comparing the two inscriptions.
The same name being inscribed on the two portraits provides evidence that they depict the same sitter, even though the resemblance is not as close as one would expect between portraits of the same sitter by Johnson. Further research may clarify the sitter's identity.
Polly Garey (life dates unknown). Also identified as Polly Gary and Polly Garry in the titles of portrait drawings by Johnson.
- Portrait pose: