The Squirrel
James Jebusa Shannon (1862-1923)
Oil on canvas
1896
37 1/8 x 20 3/16 in. (94.3 x 51.3 cm).
Collection: Brooklyn Museum, 88.163_transp2946.jpg
Anonymous gift
This lovely informal and seemingly spontaneous portrait catches the movement and amusement of the girl whose pet squirrel has landed on her shoulder. Everything about it is natural, including the flow of her delicately patterned gown, the bunching of the sleeve as her right hand too goes back to the squirrel, the loose softness of her hair, and the cheeky little squirrel itself.
Source: Brooklyn Museum, open collection. Downloaded, together with caption material, by Jacqueline Banerjee, who also added the comment.
