Description
Florence MacKubin was born in Florence, Italy, though had Baltimore connections. She exhibited internationally after studying in Paris and Munich, and went on to paint many miniatures of society women in New York, Boston, St. Louis and Washington D.C..This portrait of the Baltimore bishop who was created cardinal by Pope Leo XIII was shown at the Royal Society of Miniature Painters in London in 1907, and at the Paris Salon of 1909. A numbers of works by the artist can be found in the Maryland State Art Collection.
Cardinal Gibbons is seated, facing three-quarters left, with his chin resting on his right hand. The miniature is in a carved ebony frame.
Provenance
Miss(?) Middleton, Porchester Gate, London [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1910, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Inscriptions
[Signature and date] Front right: Florence Mackubin 1902; [Inscription] On reverse in ink: Cardinal Gibbons / painted by / Florence Mackubin [portion obscured by additional sheet] / James Cardinal Gibbons / painted by / Florence MacKubin in 1902 / exhibited in Royal Society of Miniature Painters / in 1904 in London / and the / Paris Salon of 1909 / Price £49 / c/o Miss Amy (?) G (?) Middleton / 3. Porchester Gate / London. W.; [Inscription] On additional sheet pasted on reverse: James Cardinal Gibbons / painted by / Florence Mackubin in 1902 / Exhibited in / "Royal Society of Miniature Painters" / in 1909 in London / and the / Paris Salon of 1909
Credit
Acquired by Henry Walters, 1910
