Katherine Willard Gibbs (Mrs. Henry Gibbs) (d.1769) 1747

Editor: This is John Greenwood's portrait of Katherine Willard Gibbs, painted sometime before her death in 1769. I'm struck by the artist's attention to the texture of her dress. What do you see in this piece, looking at it from an art perspective? Curator: The composition is quite interesting. Note the stark contrast between the smooth skin and the drapery's voluminous folds. The artist uses light to emphasize form, doesn't he? Observe how the light defines the planes of her face. Editor: Yes, the light definitely guides the eye. It’s really a fascinating play of textures and light. Curator: Precisely. The work’s success lies in the artist’s manipulation of these intrinsic elements. We gain insight into the work by analyzing these formal choices. Editor: That’s a great point. I’ve never thought of it like that before. Thank you.