Thomas Sully
1783–1872

Thomas Sully, an English born American artist, achieved fame and fortune as a portrait painter to the highest echelons of America society. Part of his success was, no doubt, due to his ability to flatter the sitter. for he seemed to have no qualms about 'improving' the appearance of what he was painting. Certainly his most famous portrait in Britain (the Coronation painting of the 18 year old Queen Victoria) is one of the most impressive of that long reigning monarch, not particularly noted for her beauty.

In this picture stands Eliza Ridgley, the 15 year old daughter of a wealthy Baltimore merchant.

We can imagine that the portrayal of Miss Ridgely wearing a revealing strapless dress and displaying a slender uncovered arm might have been on the borderline of risqué in 1818. And although marveling at the beauty of the satin costume, we might also wonder whether her arms were in reality quite so long or indeed whether she really played the harp at all! But as if to reassure the observer that the instrument is not just a prop. one of the pedals is depressed.

Although the harp itself seems to be rather plain and fragile, with no decoration and an unnaturally steep harmonic curve, the power of the romanticism in this portrait is beyond doubt, Perhaps it is the instrument's undestated features and straight soundboard and column which render it so suitable ro actl as a foil to the beautiful subject of the portrait?

This famous picture has something of an iconic status and been credited as an inspiration for the widespread American popularity of the harp in the 19th century. It hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.