The sculpture depicts a girl engrossed in reading a book while seated, with one leg extended and almost touching the floor. Her head is slightly tilted downward, and her gaze is fixed on the open pages before her. She is draped in a flowing garment that extends over the sides of her chair. Surrounding the girl, the chair appears intricately crafted, with a woven seat and sturdy legs that support both her and the book she holds. The sculpture is crafted from a light-colored material, likely marble, giving it a smooth, polished appearance that highlights the delicate features of the figure, including her serene facial expression and finely detailed attire. This artwork captures the sense of stillness and focus associated with reading, as the girl remains absorbed in her activity, indifferent to the world around her. This piece is presented in a stereoscopic format.
Read the visual description

The sculpture depicts a girl engrossed in reading a book while seated, with one leg extended and almost touching the floor. Her head is slightly tilted downward, and her gaze is fixed on the open pages before her. She is draped in a flowing garment that extends over the sides of her chair. Surrounding the girl, the chair appears intricately crafted, with a woven seat and sturdy legs that support both her and the book she holds. The sculpture is crafted from a light-colored material, likely marble, giving it a smooth, polished appearance that highlights the delicate features of the figure, including her serene facial expression and finely detailed attire. This artwork captures the sense of stillness and focus associated with reading, as the girl remains absorbed in her activity, indifferent to the world around her. This piece is presented in a stereoscopic format.

National Gallery of Art · Photograph

"A Girl Reading. Pietro Magni, Sculptor"

Attributed to Roger Fenton

Date
c. 1862
Medium
stereoscopic albumen silver prints
Dimensions
image/sheet (each): 7.6 x 7 cm (3 x 2 3/4 in.) mount: 8.3 x 17.3 cm (3 1/4 x 6 13/16 in.)
Classification
Photograph
Accession number
2006.78.1
Credit line
Gift of Suzanne Glover Lindsay
Time span
1851 to 1875
Department
CPH

Subjects and terms

  • British
  • albumen silver print
  • Stereograph
Provenance

Suzanne Lindsay, Washington, DC; gift to NGA, 2006.

Inscription

along left edge of mount printed in brown ink: The International; along right edge: Exhibition of 1862.; bottom left: London Stereoscopic and Photographic Company.; bottom right: No. 68.--A Girl Reading. P. Magni, Sculp.; on verso, by unknown hand, upper left in graphite: £10

NGA object ID 135509. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.