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This exquisite 1867 oil portrait by British Victorian painter Arthur Miles captures Charlotte Augusta Waddell, a renowned New York socialite and salonnière of the mid-19th century. Rendered with quiet elegance and refined detail, the sitter appears composed and self-assured, her dark curls framing a calm, luminous face.
Charlotte wears a sumptuous burgundy velvet gown trimmed with fine white lace, complemented by period jewelry including a gold pendant and cameo brooch — subtle indicators of her social status and refined taste. The work is distinguished by its oval composition, nuanced handling of light and texture, and the sitter’s dignified presence. Set in its original, finely carved gilt and velvet-lined frame, the painting exemplifies Victorian portraiture at its most intimate and sophisticated.
Oil on canvas relined and restored professionally in the early 1980s. Signed and dated in the lower right corner. Classic style frame to early 1980s.
Arthur Miles (1827-1904) was a distinguished British portrait and genre painter of the Victorian era, celebrated for his refined depictions of social elites and intellectuals. Born in Lambeth, South London, Miles was the son of composer Thomas Miles and brother of the landscape artist Leonidas Clint Miles. Arthur Miles, celebrated for his psychologically attuned and technically masterful portraits, exhibited widely across the Royal Academy, British Institution, and Royal Society of British Artists.Today, his works are held in prominent collections, including London’s National Gallery.
Specializing in portraits of upper-class sitters and society figures, Miles' compositions are noted for their quiet psychological depth, smooth painterly execution, and faithful realism. His patrons were often affluent individuals and aristocrats in both Britain and the United States.
His style blends academic technique with an intimate sensitivity to character, fashion, and setting. Through his portraits, Miles captured not only the external likeness of his sitters but also their social roles and cultural presence in the 19th century. His works remain highly sought-after by collectors of Victorian art and institutions dedicated to the preservation of 19th-century Anglo-American heritage.
Charlotte Augusta Southwick Waddell (1813-1891), née Southwick, was a prominent figure in pre-Gilded Age New York society. Following her marriage to financier and former U.S. Marshal William Coventry Waddell, she established one of the city’s earliest literary salons. Hosting dignitaries such as Daniel Webster and Washington Irving, she played a pivotal role in shaping Manhattan’s cultural landscape. Despite financial setbacks after 1857, she retained her status as a cultural icon and intellectual hostess. She died in 1891 and is buried in Trinity Churchyard, New York.
A rare and distinguished portrait, this work offers collectors an evocative glimpse into 19th-century transatlantic elite society through the eyes of a master Victorian artist.
Artist: Arthur Miles (1827-1904).
Signed and dated in the lower right corner.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Condition: Very good condition.
Dimensions: 76 x 64 cm. / 30 x 25 ¼ in.
Frame: 95 x 83 cm. / 37 ½ x 32 ¾ in. Gilt wood, oval aperture, very good condition.
Provenance: Private Collection, Ottawa.
