Accession Number
22121
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
169.6 × 93.4 cm (66 3/4 × 36 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Credit Line
Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson Collection
Background & Context
Background Story
Louis Betts's Mrs. Martin A. Ryerson (1912) is an oil on canvas portrait of the wife of the great patron. Betts's handling is sensitive and assured, capturing both physical appearance and social position. This portrait together with that of her husband documents a couple crucial to the development of the Art Institute.
Cultural Impact
The Ryersons were among the most important patrons of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Why It Matters
This portrait captures the refinement and standing of a key figure in Chicago's cultural life.
