Portrait of Dora Wheeler1882–83 · Study 1921.1239

Context from the museum

Dora Wheeler became Chase's first student when he returned from overseas study in Munich and set up a teaching studio in New York. At the time, few American artists accepted women as private pupils. After her course of study, Wheeler joined her mother in launching a successful decorating firm, one of the first businesses in the country to be operated entirely by women. For the firm, she designed luxurious textiles, and the embroidered silk tapestry that fills the background in her portrait references her occupational interest. Chase's portrait was awarded a gold medal at an international exhibition of contemporary art in Munich in 1883, and later that year was also shown in Paris. At some later point, the painting was acquired by the sitter, who subsequently donated it to the museum.

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

A detail to notice

Chase and Wheeler worked together to raise money for constructing the Statue of Liberty's pedestal.

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Portrait of Dora Wheeler is 166.4 cm wide and 159.8 cm high, equivalent to approximately 65.5 × 62.9 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 1.04:1. The rectangular bounding area is 2.66 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 55.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 66.8 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 Portrait of Dora Wheeler 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 near-square composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 166.4 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?