Technique

Violet and Blue: The Red Feather, Fogg Art Museum

It is painted on quite coarse canvas, prepared with a grey ground. There are pentimenti that suggest the feather was originally lower at left. Her right shoulder and what may be some trimming on her jacket or dress may have been altered at left. At the bottom the grey and brown jacket or dress has not been completed but merges into the greenish-brown tones of the background. There are areas of rubbing, apparently part of the painting process, for instance on her forehead and chin, and around her neck. The final touches to her features, such as the eyelids, nose and lips, were painted fairly precisely with a narrow pointed brush.

Conservation History

Violet and Blue: The Red Feather, photograph, 1921

Violet and Blue: The Red Feather, photograph, 1980

It is difficult to tell from photographs, but it is possible the painting has darkened. 1

Frame

73.7 x 53.7 x 7 cm (29 x 21 1/8 x 2 3/4").