Thomas Dewing, 1851 – 1938

Thomas Dewing Paintings: The 100 Most Famous Works, Ranked

Thomas Dewing's most famous painting is Lady in Gold (1912), in the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn. With The Recitation (1891) and The Sorcerer's Slave (The Young Sorcerer), (painting) (1877), it completes the three works everyone recognises. Our catalogue lists 129 works by Thomas Dewing; the 100 below are the ones the world looks at most, each with its year, the museum that holds it and why it matters.

Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.

Portrait of Thomas Dewing
Thomas Dewing · 1851 – 1938
Born · died
1851 – 1938, Boston
Movement
Tonalism
Works in our catalogue
129
Most famous
Lady in Gold (1912)
Most works at
Smithsonian American Art Museum

The 10 most famous Thomas Dewing paintings

Lady in Gold (1912) by Thomas Dewing
1

Lady in Gold

1912 · Oil On Canvas · Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn

A single woman sits in a quiet, heavy stillness. She is draped in a gown of deep gold, the fabric spilling toward the bottom corner like liquid metal. Her eyes are half-closed, caught in a trancelike state of introspection. She rests against a dark wooden table, a fan held loosely in her hands. The light enters from the upper left, a soft and hazy glow that brushes against the curve…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 28 × 36 cm Same size as the original $236 46 × 61 cm Order at original size →
The Recitation (1891) by Thomas Dewing
2

The Recitation

1891 · Oil On Canvas · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

In the quietude of Thomas Wilmer Dewing’s 1891 masterpiece, The Recitation, viewers are invited into a world where time seems to suspend itself. This quintessential example of Tonalist painting transcends a mere depiction of two women in an outdoor setting; it is a profound exploration of mood and atmosphere. The scene unfolds with a gentle, melancholic grace, presenting a woman dressed in black seated prominently in the foreground, while another…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 43 × 23 cm
The Sorcerer's Slave (The Young Sorcerer), (painting) (1877) by Thomas Dewing
3

The Sorcerer's Slave (The Young Sorcerer), (painting)

1877 · Oil On Canvas

A woman stands before a wall of weathered brick, her back turned to the viewer. She is naked, a pale silhouette against the textured, earthen tones of the masonry. In her hand, she holds a slender stick or a wand, a small instrument of intent. The light catches the curve of her spine and the stillness of her posture. There is a heavy, quiet tension in the way she faces…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 23 × 44 cm
The Spinner (1880) by Thomas Dewing
4

The Spinner

1880 · Oil

A woman sits in a central position, her legs crossed as she occupies a chair. She is dressed in a red gown that provides a sharp contrast to the dark, green backdrop behind her. Her hands are engaged with a spinning wheel, working with yarn or wool. To the right of the figure, a large spindle rests, its vertical form cutting through the composition. A second, smaller chair is positioned…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 36 × 28 cm
Summer (also known as Moonrise) (1893) by Thomas Dewing
5

Summer (also known as Moonrise)

1893 · Oil On Canvas · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

In the quietude of 1893, Thomas Wilmer Dewing captured a moment that transcends mere landscape, offering instead a window into a dreamlike realm. Summer, also known as Moonrise, is a quintessential masterpiece of Tonalism, an art movement that sought to evoke emotional resonance through atmosphere rather than rigid realism. The painting presents a scene of profound serenity, where two women are gracefully poised within a lush, grassy meadow. Beneath a…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 26 × 38 cm
A Musician (1877) by Thomas Dewing
6

A Musician

1877 · Oil On Canvas

A Musician, painted by Thomas Dewing in 1877, captures a solitary figure in a moment of quietude. The subject is a female musician, her form settled into a stillness that suggests the weight of a performance concluded. She holds a violin, the wood of the instrument a silent companion to her weary posture. The scene is a study of a woman caught between the music and the silence that follows.

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 26 × 39 cm
A Garden (1883) by Thomas Dewing
7

A Garden

1883 · Oil On Canvas · Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

In A Garden, Thomas Dewing presents a scene that invites a sense of classical or mythological escapism. Painted about 1883, the work captures a quiet, dreamlike atmosphere through its subject matter. Two female figures occupy a long, pale stone terrace under a vast, pale sky. To the left, a figure is draped in a heavy, patterned green and gold cloak, seated and looking downward. To the right, a second figure…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 50 × 20 cm Same size as the original $301 102 × 40 cm Order at original size →
Morning, (painting) (1879) by Thomas Dewing
8

Morning, (painting)

1879 · Oil

The artwork titled Morning, (painting) was created by the American painter Thomas Dewing. This specific composition dates to about 1879. The subject matter consists of two women positioned within the scene, both of whom are dressed in Renaissance gowns.

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $206 41 × 25 cm
Mrs. Delancey Kane (Eleanora A. Iselin) (ca. 1851 1938), (painting) (1888) by Thomas Dewing
9

Mrs. Delancey Kane (Eleanora A. Iselin) (ca. 1851 1938), (painting)

1888 · Charcoal

In this grayscale portrait, we encounter Eleanora A. Iselin, known to many as Mrs. Delancey Kane, captured in a moment of profound stillness. The work, dating from 1888, presents her in formal attire, her figure occupying the center of the frame with a quiet, dignified presence. There is a certain weight to the composition, achieved through the careful layering of charcoal and pastel on paper. The texture is palpable, with…

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 24 × 41 cm
Hymen (1886) by Thomas Dewing
10

Hymen

1886 · Oil On Canvas · Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati

In Hymen, Thomas Dewing presents a poised female figure emerging from a thicket of lush foliage. Created about 1886, the work centers on this solitary woman, whose presence is defined by a flowing gown. She holds a golden staff, a vertical weight against the soft, organic shapes of the surrounding greenery. The subject matter carries an allegorical weight, likely representing Hymen, the Greek god of marriage.

Hand-painted oil reproduction from $181 21 × 48 cm Same size as the original $278 44 × 95 cm Order at original size →

Thomas Dewing, paintings 11 to 100

Classical Figures (1898) by Thomas Dewing
#11

Classical Figures

1898 · Detroit Institute of Arts

Classical Figures is a painting by the American artist Thomas Dewing. Created about 1898, this work presents a triptych-style composition arranged on a three-panel folding screen. The subject…

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Music (1895) by Thomas Dewing
#12

Music

1895 · Smithsonian American Art Museum

In Music, Thomas Dewing presents a scene that feels pulled from a quiet, half-remembered dream. Painted in 1895, the work centers on a woman draped in a flowing…

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The Lute (1903) by Thomas Dewing
#16

The Lute

1903

The Lute is an oil painting by Thomas Dewing, created about 1903. The work presents a portrait of a young woman seated at a table. A lute rests…

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Lady in Gray (1910) by Thomas Dewing
#17

Lady in Gray

1910 · Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art

In this quiet portrait, titled Lady in Gray, we encounter a work by the American painter Thomas Dewing. Created about 1910, the painting presents a serene and ethereal…

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The Letter (1908) by Thomas Dewing
#22

The Letter

1908 · Toledo Museum of Art

The Letter is an oil on canvas painting by Thomas Dewing. Created about 1908, the work captures a solitary moment within a quiet, austere interior. A seated, elegant…

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The Pink Dress (1894) by Thomas Dewing
#24

The Pink Dress

1894 · The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art

Thomas Wilmer Dewing’s “The Pink Dress,” painted in 1894, isn't merely a depiction of a woman in attire; it’s an immersion into a fleeting moment of serene contemplation.…

Commission a hand-painted copy from $181 →
Comedia (1894) by Thomas Dewing
#25

Comedia

1894 · Philadelphia Museum of Art

In the quietude of Thomas Wilmer Dewing’s 1894 masterpiece, Comedia, viewers are invited into a realm where the boundaries between reality and dream begin to dissolve. This exquisite…

Commission a hand-painted copy from $181 →
Spring (1890) by Thomas Dewing
#26

Spring

1890 · Smithsonian American Art Museum

The painting Spring by Thomas Wilmer Dewing is a stunning representation of the season's arrival, filled with vibrant colors and serene atmosphere. Created in 1890, this oil on…

Order a reproduction from $231 →
La Jaseur (1907) by Thomas Dewing
#59

La Jaseur

1907 · Minneapolis Institute of Art

In the quiet, sun-drenched corners of early twentieth-century American life, Thomas Wilmer Dewing found his most profound inspirations. His 1907 masterpiece, La Jaseur, serves as a breathtaking window…

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Thomas Dewing's paintings by period

The subjects Thomas Dewing painted most

The four subjects that return most often among these masterpieces, with the finest example of each.

Where to see Thomas Dewing's paintings

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by Thomas Dewing Paintings from this list
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.Smithsonian American Art Museum Washington, D.C. 14 Music, Spring, Summer
Detroit Institute of Arts, DetroitDetroit Institute of Arts Detroit 7 The Recitation, Summer (also known as Moonrise), Classical Figures
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art New York 4 Tobias and the Angel, The Letter
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, BentonvilleCrystal Bridges Museum of American Art Bentonville 2 Spring (The Garden), The Fortune Teller
Brooklyn Museum, BrooklynBrooklyn Museum Brooklyn 1 Lady in Gold
Museum of Fine Arts, BostonMuseum of Fine Arts Boston 1 A Garden
Cincinnati Art Museum, CincinnatiCincinnati Art Museum Cincinnati 1 Hymen
Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint LouisSaint Louis Art Museum Saint Louis 1 Lady in White

Thomas Dewing's most famous painting of each decade

  1. 1870s
  2. 1880s
    The Spinner (1880) by Thomas Dewing
    No. 4 of 100

    The Spinner

    Age 29 – 38

    A woman sits in a central position, her legs crossed as she occupies a chair. She is dressed in a red gown that provides a sharp contrast to…

  3. 1890s
    The Recitation (1891) by Thomas Dewing
    No. 2 of 100

    The Recitation

    Age 39 – 48 · Detroit Institute of Arts

    In the quietude of Thomas Wilmer Dewing’s 1891 masterpiece, The Recitation, viewers are invited into a world where time seems to suspend itself. This quintessential example of Tonalist…

  4. 1900s
    Lady in White (1901) by Thomas Dewing
    #13 of 100

    Lady in White

    Age 49 – 58 · Saint Louis Art Museum

    Lady in White (No. 2) is an oil on canvas by the American artist Thomas Dewing. Created in the United States, the work is dated circa 1910. This…

  5. 1910s
    Lady in Gold (1912) by Thomas Dewing
    Rank 1 / 100

    Lady in Gold

    Age 59 – 68 · Brooklyn Museum

    A single woman sits in a quiet, heavy stillness. She is draped in a gown of deep gold, the fabric spilling toward the bottom corner like liquid metal.…

  6. 1920s
    June (1920) by Thomas Dewing
    #98 of 100

    June

    Age 69 – 78

Questions about Thomas Dewing's paintings

What is Thomas Dewing's most famous painting?Show the answer

Lady in Gold (1912), Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn. Next come The Recitation (1891) and The Sorcerer's Slave (The Young Sorcerer), (painting) (1877).

How old was Thomas Dewing when Lady in Gold was painted?Show the answer

61 years old: Lady in Gold dates from 1912 and Thomas Dewing was born in 1851.

What are the top 10 paintings by Thomas Dewing?Show the answer

Lady in Gold, The Recitation, The Sorcerer's Slave (The Young Sorcerer), (painting), The Spinner, Summer (also known as Moonrise), A Musician, A Garden, Morning, (painting), Mrs. Delancey Kane (Eleanora A. Iselin) (ca. 1851 1938), (painting) and Hymen. The ranking above gives the year and the museum of each.

How many paintings did Thomas Dewing make?Show the answer

Our catalogue lists 129 works by Thomas Dewing, dated from 1877 to 1922.

Where are Thomas Dewing's most famous paintings?Show the answer

Most of them are in Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.), Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit) and Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). The table above lists the museums one by one.

When did Thomas Dewing paint the most famous works?Show the answer

In 1890s: 28 of the 100 works on this page date from then, among them The Recitation.

What are Thomas Dewing's earliest and latest famous paintings?Show the answer

The earliest on this page is The Sorcerer's Slave (The Young Sorcerer), (painting) (1877), the latest The Dance Twilight, (painting) (1922).

What did Thomas Dewing paint most often?Show the answer

Woman (18), Women (13) and American art (6), among the 100 works on this page.

What medium did Thomas Dewing use most?Show the answer

Oil On Canvas: 15 of the 100 works on this page.

Which art movement does Thomas Dewing belong to?Show the answer

Tonalism, as the paintings on this page show.

Which Thomas Dewing paintings can I see at the Smithsonian American Art Museum?Show the answer

Music, Spring and Summer are among the 11 works on this page held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C..

Can I buy a reproduction of a Thomas Dewing painting?Show the answer

Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.

About Thomas Dewing

**early life and training**

thomas wilmer dewing, an american painter, was born on may 4, 1851, in boston, massachusetts. his artistic journey began with a lithographic apprenticeship, which later led him to the prestigious académie julian in paris, where he studied under gustave boulanger and jules lefebvre starting from 1887.

**artistic style and notable works**

dewing's artistic style is characterized by his tonalist paintings, a genre deeply rooted in english aestheticism. his preferred subjects were aristocratic women, often depicted in moody, dreamlike surroundings, playing instruments or engaging in introspective activities. * **woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing** (1887), a poignant oil on panel, showcases his wife, an accomplished painter with extensive formal art training. * **lady in gold** (1912), now at the brooklyn museum, exemplifies his mastery of capturing the essence of his subjects.

**teaching and associations**

dewing was a founding member of the ten american painters in 1898 and taught at the art students league of new york. his association with the society of landscape painters, founded in 1899, further solidified his position within the tonalist movement.

**legacy and collections**

* the freer gallery of art at the smithsonian institution has a dedicated room for dewing's works. * notable collectors include john gellatly and charles lang freer.

**later life and death**

dewing's artistic output declined after 1920. he passed away in new york on november 5, 1938, leaving behind a legacy of captivating, ethereal portraits that continue to intrigue art enthusiasts. **key works and collections available for reproduction at WahooArt:** * the white dress * woman in black: portrait of maria oakey dewing * lady in gold discover the world's most famous paintings with WahooArt's extensive collection