In his early career Johnson's portraits of children and adolescents were confined to charcoal drawings of his family members, such as Harriet. But when he moved to Boston, he began to draw other children, such as the Longfellow children, in both charcoal and pastel.
See Technical Information on Johnson's Practices for a discussion of charcoal, black chalk, crayon, and pastel. —PH
Hills, 2022: The date of this drawing is more likely c. 1845 than the 1841 stated by John I. H. Baur, based on its resemblance to Johnson's drawings Philip Carrigan Johnson Jr. and Harriet Johnson and Judith and Harriet Johnson, both inscribed 1845.
Baur 1940, p. 30: "According to the present owner [Sarah May Edmonds], Harriet [Johnson's sister] was born in 1833 and was eight at the time of this portrait, which dates it 1841. It is the earliest example of Johnson's work located."
Harriet Charles Johnson (1833–1881). Sister of Johnson; wife of Joseph May (m. 1865).
- Portrait pose:
- Portrait sitter families:
- Format:
- Oval »