Basic Information

Historical Context

Virginia Purdy Bacon was the wife of American diplomat and philanthropist Walter Rathbone Bacon. Her collie dog adds informal warmth to the formal society portrait. Content Description A full-length seated portrait of a woman in an elegant white evening gown, adorned with yellow floral embellishments. Long pearl necklace. A large rough collie stands attentively at her left side. Dark blue-black atmospheric background. Signed "Zorn 1896." Artistic Analysis This portrait showcases Zorn's handling of "white on white" -- the dress, the dog's white fur, and skin highlights are all different temperatures and values of white, creating shimmering luminosity. The painting proves Zorn's equal standing with John Singer Sargent as the leading portraitists of the Gilded Age.