Collection Feature: Sophie Portrait
Hagley is home to a sizable art collection. Some of these are on display and available for public viewing in the Eleutherian Mills residence, while others are safely stored in the Hagley archives. Among the collection are a number of portraits—as a wealthy family, the du Ponts had the means to commission portraits of family members before photography was invented or widely accessible.
Among the du Pont family portraits is that of Sophie Madeleine du Pont (1810-1888), youngest daughter of E.I. du Pont and Sophie Dalmas du Pont, and wife of Rear Admiral Samuel Francis du Pont. Sophie's portrait hangs above the mantle in the Blue Room at the Eleutherian Mills residence—a fitting placement, given that the shawl in which she was painted is also blue.
In addition to Sophie's portrait, the artist, Rembrandt Peale, also painted Sophie's sisters (Victorine, Evelina, and Eleuthera), her father, and her grandfather.
Rembrandt Peale and Neoclassicism
Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860) was a prolific early American painter. He's most well known for his portrait paintings of George Washington, whom he first painted in 1795 when Peale was only 17 years old. Over the course of his career, he would go on to produce no less than 79 replicas of Washington's portrait, one of which resides in the Met Museum, another in the Oval Office. The du Ponts obtained another of Peale's portraits of George Washington, as well as another of his wife, Martha Washington.
Peale studied art in Europe, and it was there, in France, that he adopted a Neoclassicist style of painting. Neoclassicism, which rose to popularity in the 18th century, was characterized predominantly by a return to Greco-Roman aesthetics and artistic values. The Neoclassicist movement emphasized simplicity, symmetry, and harmony—all of which are embodied by the quiet elegance of Sophie du Pont's portrait.
The mission of Hagley Museum and Library is to foster innovation and inspiration through our historical collections. Located on the site of E.I. du Pont's gunpowder works, Hagley's offerings include a library dedicated to the study of American business and technology, a unique patent model collection, and the restored historical mill and workers' community, as well as the home and gardens of the du Pont family. Hagley also hosts a variety of events intended to educate and engage the wider community. Plan your visit today, or consider donating to support our work!