Sara in a Round-Brimmed Bonnet Holding her Dog by Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt
1844–1926 | American

Sara in a Round-Brimmed Bonnet, Holding her Dog

Signed (center right)
Pastel on paper

“I love to paint children. They are so natural and truthful. They have no arrière-pensée [ulterior motive].” – Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt is distinguished as one of the foremost women painters in Western art and one of the only Americans to exhibit with the Impressionists. Perfectly exemplifying her mastery of the Impressionist ethos, this work on paper, Sara in a Round-Brimmed Bonnet, Holding her Dog, showcases her signature subject in a vibrant composition, capturing the essence of domestic beauty.

In 1901, already a renowned artist, Mary Cassatt began frequently employing Sara, a young golden-haired girl who was quite likely the granddaughter of former French president Emile Loubet. Sara's sweet face, ethereal features and good-natured demeanor made her a favored model. Sara is featured in many of her works, including Sara in a Green Bonnet at the Smithsonian of American Art Museum and a drawing titled Sara Wearing Her Bonnet and Coat at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

In this work, she focuses intently on Sara's countenance, capturing her personality with meticulous artistry. Sara's bright blue eyes gaze to the right, harmonizing with the blue flower in her hair and the fluid lines outlining her form. Cassatt's masterful draftsmanship is evident in the intricacies of Sara's brow, nose and lips, enhancing the girl's lifelike presence. The detailing of Sara’s face is complemented by her delightful hat at the top of the composition and her furry friend at the bottom. By matching the rich sandy color palette of the pair's hair, Cassatt subtly emphasizes the intimate and universally familiar bond between child and canine. A staunch supporter of women's equality, Cassatt imbued all of her works—and particularly this enchanting depiction of Sara—with a belief in the compelling individualism of girls.

Born in 1844 near Pittsburgh, Mary Cassatt spent most of her life in France. She is likely the most important person in exposing the Impressionist movement to the Americas. Cassatt exhibited at the Salon and was invited by Edgar Degas in 1877 to join the Impressionist exhibitions, participating in 1879–81 and 1886 as the lone American in the group. Today, Cassatt remains one of the most towering figures in art history, and her works are highly coveted by prestigious institutions and collectors. Major retrospective exhibitions of her work, both oil paintings and works on paper alike, have been held at the Musée d’Orsay, and 2024 exhibitions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Fine Art Museum of San Francisco. 

Circa 1901

Paper: 21 1/2" high x 16 1/4" wide (54.61 x 41.28 cm)
Frame: 34 3/4" high x 29 1/4" wide x 2 1/2" deep (88.27 x 74.30 x 6.35 cm)

View the Dossier

Provenance:
Payson Thompson, New York, acquired from the artist
Sale, American Art Association, New York, 12 January 1928, lot 82, sold by the above
J.P. Henry, 1928
Mrs. George C. Willson, Flint, Michigan
Private Collection, gift from the above, 1958
Private Collection, likely acquired from the above
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
International Studio, vol. 89, January 1928, p. 6 (illustrated)
A.D. Breeskin, Mary Cassatt: A Catalogue Raisonné of the Oils, Pastels, Watercolors and Drawings, Washington, D.C., 1970, p. 154, no. 368 (illustrated)

Exhibited:
Grand Rapids, Michigan, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Mary Cassatt, May 10-June 2, 1974, no. 2