Sarah Esther Hindman as Little Red Riding Hood - Thomas Sully

A portrait by Thomas Sully depicting Sarah Esther Hindman dressed as the folklore character Little Red Riding Hood, painted in 1834.

Thomas Sully, a prominent figure in nineteenth-century American portraiture, painted this work in 1834. It depicts Sarah Esther Hindman posed as the character Little Red Riding Hood. Sully was known for his ability to capture the likeness of his sitters while imbuing them with a sense of theatricality and grace. This painting reflects the period's interest in literary and folklore themes, which allowed artists to move beyond standard portrait conventions.

The composition centres on the young girl, who wears a white dress and a distinctive red hood. She leans against a large rock, holding a small basket. The background consists of a darkened, wooded area, which provides a contrast to the brightness of her attire. Sully employs a soft, painterly technique, particularly in the treatment of the fabric and the dappled light filtering through the trees. The brushwork is fluid, typical of his style, which often prioritised a sense of ease and elegance over rigid detail.

Sully spent much of his career in Philadelphia, where he became the preferred portraitist for the city's elite. His work often shows the influence of British portrait painters like Sir Thomas Lawrence, whom he met during a trip to London in 1809. This influence is visible in the romanticised approach to the subject and the focus on the sitter's expression. The painting remains a clear example of how nineteenth-century artists utilised costume and narrative to create engaging character studies. The work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.