Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné
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Photo: The Caldwell Gallery, Manlius, New York
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23.0 Children and Pets
A traditional theme in genre painting, but also seen in children’s portraits, are children interacting with their pets. Pets, then and now, were given to children to encourage responsibility and even empathy toward other creatures. Pictures in the theme Maine Haylofts (13.7) also include children and pets. —PH
Hills no. 23.0.7
Girl with a Rabbit
Alternate titles: possibly Child and Rabbit; Girl Holding Rabbit; Girl with Rabbit
1878
Oil on board
12 3/8 x 10 in. (31.4 x 25.4 cm)
Signed and dated lower left: E. Johnson/-78
Private collection, Palo Alto, California
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Description / Remarks
Hills, 2021: The girl in this painting likely was modeled by Johnson's daughter, Ethel.
Markings
Verso inscription: This painting was given personally to Hilda Seccomb by her father & is now the property of Joan Danach [?] Fox.
Provenance
Private collection, Sarasota, Florida
Private collection, 1989 (by purchase)
Private collection, Palo Alto, California, 1999 (by purchase)
Exhibitions
Century Association, New York, Memorial Exhibition of Eastman Johnson, February 9–13, 1907, [possibly, as Child and Rabbit].
References
Howard, Henry Ward Beecher, and Arthur N. Jervis, eds. The Eagle and Brooklyn: The Record of the Progress of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Brooklyn, NY: The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1893, p. 808, as Girl with a Rabbit.
Hills Examination / Opinion
Examination date(s): 1984-06-15
Examination notes: Dark red stockings; putty grey dress with red sleeves and red stripe near border of skirt. White collar. High boots with buttons. Rabbit: white and grey yellow spots. Floor base: turquoise paint. White slip showing under skirt. White background simulating whitewash. Strokes every which way. Floorboards—nail heads visible. Outlining around chair. Face: discernible smile; light feathery quality—small strokes following contour of face. Fingers: not outlines—they melt into fur. Hair of girl: soft-grey brown, sheen as highlights. Outlining lightly around head. Eyebrows: short quick strokes and same with lashes.
2019-10-28 comment: Ethel is likely the model.
2019-10-28 comment: Ethel is likely the model.
Sitter Biography
Sitter: Conkling, Ethel Eastman Johnson
Biography:
Ethel Eastman Johnson Conkling (1870–1931). Daughter of Johnson. Married Alfred Ronalds Conkling (m. 1896); after Conkling died, married William H. Holden (m. 1922) and settled abroad. Mother of three daughters, only one of whom had her own children. Ethel was Johnson’s frequent model in his genre scenes of children.
Related work
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Keywords
- Portrait sitter families:
- Subject matter:
- Rabbits »
Record last updated July 28, 2021. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Hills, Patricia, and Abigael MacGibeny. "Girl with a Rabbit, 1878 (Hills no. 23.0.7)." Eastman Johnson Catalogue Raisonné. www.eastmanjohnson.org/catalogue/entry.php?id=358 (accessed on April 19, 2024).