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. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Gallery
Not on view
Collection
Artist
Title
Frances Kemble Butler
Date
ca. 1834
Medium
Oil on canvas
Classification
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
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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