Harriet Cohen
- Artist: Ronald Ossory Dunlop
- Date: circa 1930
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 29 7/8 in. x 20 in. (760 mm x 507 mm)
- Portrays: Harriet Cohen
- Museum: The National Portrait Gallery
- Collection record: The National Portrait Gallery website
Listen to the free audio guide
About this artwork
This is “Harriet Cohen,” an oil on canvas painted in 1930 by Ronald Ossory Dunlop. In front of the picture you’ll see a woman who looks straight into the viewer’s eye, her hair pulled back neatly into a bun—typical of the time. Her dress is sleeveless with a low neckline, a style he used for her recital attire; it has a soft sheen that catches light and suggests evening elegance.
The painting captures her poised pose against a simple backdrop, making her hands and shoulders the focus. The brushwork on her dress shows careful layering, giving texture without heavy impasto. The canvas size—about 30 by 20 inches—makes this portrait intimate, like a personal conversation with the sitter.
Harriet Cohen was a noted pianist, famed for Bach’s repertoire and also for contemporary works. She performed pieces written for her by composers such as Vaughan‑Williams and Sir Arnold Bax, who even composed a concerto for her after she lost use of her right hand in 1948. This portrait shows the musical artist at the peak of her career, dressed in the evening wear she favored when giving recitals.
See it in person
Harriet Cohen is in the collection of The National Portrait Gallery at St Martin's Place, London — free to enter. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
