Catherine Greene1769 · Study 1915.527

Context from the museum

The Boston painter Copley's virtuosity at rendering luxurious textiles was precisely the kind of talent that appealed to his patrons. In 1769 the prosperous merchant John Greene commissioned a portrait of himself and this portrait of his wife, Catherine (1735–1785), after thirteen years of marriage. Shown at the age of 34, Mrs. Greene wears a fanciful costume inspired by ancient styles, strikes a pose derived from an English engraving, and pretends to lean against a rock that looks as insubstantial as a theatrical prop. This likeness places Mrs. Greene in an ideal realm far removed from mundane matters. The frame is original.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Small, shimmering pearls in the woman's hair and on her sleeves add an opulent touch to this portrait.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Catherine Greene is 101 cm wide and 125.7 cm high, equivalent to approximately 39.8 × 49.5 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.80:1. The rectangular bounding area is 1.27 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 33.7% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 99.5 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Catherine Greene in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 101 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?