John Ritto Penniman
Elizabeth Bartlett Nolen (Mrs. Henry Nolen), about 1828–30

Technical Notes
The support is a tangentially cut basswood panel, which has a slight convex warp. The surface of the panel is scored to resemble twill fabric, and the back is coated with a dark reddish-brown stain. After the painting was completed, the panel appears to have been cut down on the bottom and left edges. Paint extends over the top and right edges, indicating that they have not been trimmed. There are small losses in the paint and ground layers on the bottom and left edges, which possibly resulted from cutting.

The ground layer is greenish gray and appears to have been applied by the artist. Brush marks are visible in the ground layer, and the scored twill pattern on the panel surface appears faint and varies in depth. The ground shows through the paint layers in some places, such as in the shadows in the face, particularly on the proper left side.

Penniman painted the portrait thinly and used glazes throughout. The earring and white areas show slight impasto. Large areas of the painting were first laid in with thinly applied paint. Shapes, contours, and lines were later developed with thinly applied brushstrokes. Very little blending occurs on the surface; most layers were applied wet-on-dry. The last semi-transparent glaze in the background was painted up to the edges of the figure. Final touches to the hair and lace were then applied wet-on-dry.

The partial loss of glazes in the face, ear, and hair is probably the result of past over cleaning. Small losses occur on the earring, neck, and proper right cheek. The present varnish is moderately thick and appears somewhat matte and uneven.

Frame Notes
The frame consists of a wide, unadorned, gilded softwood molding. The inner edge consists of a narrow scoop, followed by three narrow flat bands that rise in steps to a broad section which angles toward the painting. The outer section consists of a wide scoop that angles downward to the back panel. The bole is gray and the surface appears to be water gilded. The back panel is finished with a dull yellow paint.