Dark Academia
Woman with a Book
Unknown Artist
A refined 19th-century German portrait of a woman with a scholarly air, holding a book and wearing a crisp white ruff collar.
Julia Ward Howe
John Elliott, William Cotton
1917 · Oil Paint, Canvas
This dignified portrait captures the celebrated American author Julia Ward Howe in a moment of quiet reflection, set against a soft, wooded backdrop.
$243
For the selected configuration
From $129
1 frame size
Frame size
Frame color
Mount
Paper type
Glaze
Made to order in ~2 business days · Free U.S. standard shipping (typically 5–8 business days after dispatch)
Where it works
A quiet, grounding work with warm wood and umber notes — adds structure to a more polished room.
- Often works in
- Study · Library · Office
- Placement
- Strong for entryways, narrow walls, and vertical placements
- Walls
- Best where a lighter wall gives it room to show
- Color notes
- Rich brown, Charcoal black, Aged gold
About the piece
Begun by John Elliott and completed by William Henry Cotton, this masterful oil portrait depicts the influential author and activist Julia Ward Howe. The work exhibits a sophisticated handling of texture, from the delicate lace at her throat to the heavy, draped fabrics of her shawl, creating a piece that feels both historically significant and visually grounding.
More like this
Contains nudity
Figure Studies
A Young Woman Reading
Gustave Courbet
An intimate and painterly portrait of a woman lost in thought while reading outdoors.
