Mary Stevenson Cassatt<br/>
American 1844–1926<br/>
<em>Ellen Mary in a white coat</em> c. 1896<br/>
oil on canvas<br/>
81.3 x 60.3 cm<br/>
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston<br/>
Gift of Charles, Hope, and Binney Hare in honor of Ellen Mary Cassatt (1982.630)<br/>
Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.  All Rights Reserved.

Wednesday Work of the Week | Secondary Domestic scenes

Wed 25 Aug 21, 9.45am

Mary Stevenson Cassatt<br/> American 1844–1926<br/> <em>Ellen Mary in a white coat</em> c. 1896<br/> oil on canvas<br/> 81.3 x 60.3 cm<br/> Museum of Fine Arts, Boston<br/> Gift of Charles, Hope, and Binney Hare in honor of Ellen Mary Cassatt (1982.630)<br/> Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. All Rights Reserved.
Past program

This program takes place virtually

Levels 7-12

Join an NGV Educator live from the NGV for a short and lively introduction to one work from French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.  To have your questions answered about the Wednesday Work of the Week send them in advance to education.bookings@ngv.vic.gov.au. The program recording will also be available to access for one week for booked participants.

Domestic scenes

Philadelphia-born Mary Cassatt had a gift for painting likenesses and was often commissioned to paint portraits. Even once she achieved financial independence, she continued painting figures, often using members of her family as models. She created her own vision of the people, places and moments particular to her; Ellen Mary in a white coat, c. 1896, depicts her two-year-old niece in fashionable attire.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify and describe sources of inspiration Mary Cassatt’s work.
  • Analyse and interpret the themes, concepts and ideas in Mary Cassatt’s Ellen Mary in a white coat.
  • Discuss how Impressionist artists used materials, techniques and processes to realise their intentions in their artworks.

Duration: 15 mins

Cost: Free

Learn French Impressionism from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston