Arabella (Yarrington) Huntington

Most famous for his portraits of the British royal family, here Birley unflinchingly renders the stern expression, direct gaze, and strong, unidealized features of Arabella Huntington, founder, with her husband Henry, of the Huntington Art Museum. The portrait dates to the year of Arabella's death, at a time when she was not only one of the richest women in the world, but also among America's foremost art collectors. Shrouded entirely in black and seated before a nebulous backdrop, she reveals little of herself, presenting an impressive and enigmatic figure.