Portrait of William Page

William Page Paintings: The 26 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye

Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 26 works by William Page in our catalogue

In short

To the gallery's eye, William Page's most famous painting is Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 (1859), whose original hangs in the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven. Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) (1845) and Shakespeare Reading (1873) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 26 works by William Page in our catalog, the gallery presents the 26 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.

1811 – 1885, Albany Academic realism Most works: Smithsonian American Art Museum
Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 (1859) by William Page1. Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 1859 Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) (1845) by William Page2. Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) 1845 Shakespeare Reading (1873) by William Page3. Shakespeare Reading 1873

The gallery's top 10 William Page paintings

1
Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 (1859) by William Page

Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846

1859 · Oil On Canvas · Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven

In this 1859 oil on canvas, we find ourselves in the quiet, private sanctuary of a library, seated across from Henry Stevens. The composition is a three-quarter length portrait that places the viewer at eye-level, creating an immediate, almost conversational intimacy with the sitter. Stevens is positioned centrally, his presence anchored by the heavy, rectangular geometry of the bookshelves that rise behind him. The atmosphere is one of profound intellectual…

About this original
2
Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) (1845) by William Page

Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867)

1845 · Oil On Canvas · Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge

A single light source carves a face from the dark. The subject, Charles Greely Loring, sits in a quiet, heavy stillness, his gaze meeting the viewer from a slight angle. Shadows pool in the folds of his skin and the deep recesses of his clothing, creating a sense of physical volume that feels almost tactile. The white of his shirtfront acts as a sharp, bright anchor against a sea of…

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3
Shakespeare Reading (1873) by William Page

Shakespeare Reading

1873 · Oil On Canvas · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

A man sits in a moment of profound stillness, his attention anchored to a small book held within his hands. The composition is a vertical three-quarter length portrait, positioning the subject slightly off-center to create an intimate, scholarly atmosphere. Deep browns, burgundies, and dark greens dominate the palette, grounding the figure in a somber, academic environment. Light enters from the upper left, casting soft shadows across the face and catching…

About this original
4
Josiah Quincy (1772-1864) (1843) by William Page

Josiah Quincy (1772-1864)

1843 · Oil On Canvas · Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge

A single light source strikes from the upper left, carving a face out of the heavy dark. Josiah Quincy sits in a three-quarter view, his presence defined by the sharp white of a cravat against the deep shadows of his torso. The background is an indeterminate void, a darkness that offers no horizon, only depth. This is a study in chiaroscuro, where the light does not merely illuminate but actively…

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5
Colonel William Leete Stone (1839) by William Page

Colonel William Leete Stone

1839 · Oil On Canvas · Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland

A single quill pen rests against a stack of papers, its tip poised as if caught in a moment of sudden thought. The light strikes the white linen of a cravat, a sharp contrast against the heavy, dark tones of the background. This is the world of Colonel William Leete Stone, rendered in oil on canvas in 1839. He does not look at the viewer. Instead, his gaze is directed…

The story behind this original
6
Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford (1753-1814), after Moritz Kellerhoven (1758-1830) (1843) by William Page

Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford (1753-1814), after Moritz Kellerhoven (1758-1830)

1843 · Oil · Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge

In this 1843 oil portrait, we encounter the presence of Sir Benjamin Thompson, later known as Count Rumford. The subject is presented in a dignified profile, a choice that emphasizes the sharp, thoughtful contours of his features. He is depicted in a bust-length composition, his head and upper torso emerging from a dark, undifferentiated background that pushes his likeness toward the viewer. The lighting is deliberate, sweeping in from the…

The story behind this original
7
Moses, Aaron and Hur on Mount Horeb (1857) by William Page

Moses, Aaron and Hur on Mount Horeb

1857 · Oil On Canvas · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

In this 1857 oil on canvas, we find ourselves drawn into a heavy, atmospheric moment on Mount Horeb. The scene captures a profound instance of physical and spiritual exhaustion, where the weight of leadership meets the necessity of communal support. Three men are locked in a struggle against fatigue, their forms emerging from a deep, murky darkness that swallows the background. The lighting is handled with a deliberate chiaroscuro, casting…

About this original
8
Mrs. William Page (1860) by William Page

Mrs. William Page

1860 · Oil On Canvas · Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit

In this vertical, three-quarter length portrait, Mrs. William Page by William Page occupies a space of quiet dignity. She sits slightly off-center to the right, a placement that allows the eye to wander toward the monumental architecture looming to her left. The composition creates a deliberate balance between the living presence of the subject and the ancient, weathered stone of the Roman Colosseum. This structural tension draws the viewer into…

The story behind this original
9
Cupid and Psyche (1843) by William Page

Cupid and Psyche

1843 · Oil · Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, San Francisco

This romantic and atmospheric oil painting, created in 1843, depicts two figures in an intimate embrace amidst a dark, wooded setting. The composition is characterized by a heavy asymmetrical balance, with the large, luminous forms of the two subjects positioned on the right side of the frame, contrasting against a lighter landscape on the left. The color palette utilizes deep, shadowy tones of forest green, black, and umber, which are…

About this original
10
Untitled (La Bella) (1852) by William Page

Untitled (La Bella)

1852 · Oil On Canvas · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.

The gaze of the subject in Untitled (La Bella) meets the viewer with a quiet, steady presence. Painted by William Page in 1852, this portrait captures a single female figure in a moment of poised stillness. She exists within a space that feels both intimate and distant, her form emerging from a dark, indistinct background that offers no distractions from her character.

About this original

William Page paintings, ranked 11 to 26

11Venus Guiding Eneas and the Trojans to the Latin Shore (1862) by William PageVenus Guiding Eneas and the Trojans to the Latin Shore1862 · Smithsonian American Art Museum 12Portrait of a Young Man (1832) by William PagePortrait of a Young Man1832 · Smithsonian American Art Museum 13Charlotte Cushman (1853) by William PageCharlotte Cushman1853 · National Portrait Gallery 14Sarah Leaning on a Bannister (1840) by William PageSarah Leaning on a Bannister1840 · Smithsonian American Art Museum 15Mrs. Abraham Conger (Mary Rutgers McCrea Hedges) (1838) by William PageMrs. Abraham Conger (Mary Rutgers McCrea Hedges)1838 · Museum of Fine Arts 16Quarrel of Achilles and Agamemnon (1832) by William PageQuarrel of Achilles and Agamemnon1832 · Smithsonian American Art Museum 17Young Merchants (1842) by William PageYoung Merchants1842 · Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts 18William Lloyd Garrison (1845) by William PageWilliam Lloyd Garrison1845 · Museum of Fine Arts 19Thomas Wren Ward (1786-1858) (1845) by William PageThomas Wren Ward (1786-1858)1845 · Harvard Art Museums 20Harriet Hosmer (1855) by William PageHarriet Hosmer1855 · Museum of Fine Arts 21Catharine Jane Eliot Norton (Mrs. Andrews Norton) (1793-1879) (1856) by William PageCatharine Jane Eliot Norton (Mrs. Andrews Norton) (1793-1879)1856 · Harvard Art Museums 22Portrait of Senator Charles Sumner (1874) by William PagePortrait of Senator Charles Sumner1874 · Los Angeles County Museum of Art 23Charles Sumner (1874) by William PageCharles Sumner1874 · Smithsonian American Art Museum 24Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) (1875) by William PageCharles William Eliot (1834-1926)1875 · Harvard Art Museums 25Self Portrait (1860) by William PageSelf Portrait1860 · Detroit Institute of Arts 26View of Athens (1820) by William PageView of Athens1820 · Benaki Museum

The subjects that held William Page's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

Man 8 works

Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 (1859), William Page #1 Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 1859 · Yale University Art Gallery Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) (1845), William Page #2 Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) 1845 · Harvard Art Museums Shakespeare Reading (1873), William Page #3 Shakespeare Reading 1873 · Smithsonian American Art Museum Josiah Quincy (1772-1864) (1843), William Page #4 Josiah Quincy (1772-1864) 1843 · Harvard Art Museums

Portrait 7 works

Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford (1753-1814), after Moritz Kellerhoven (1758-1830) (1843), William Page #6 Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford (1753-1814), after Moritz Kellerhoven (1758-1830) 1843 · Harvard Art Museums Untitled (La Bella) (1852), William Page #10 Untitled (La Bella) 1852 · Smithsonian American Art Museum Portrait of a Young Man (1832), William Page #12 Portrait of a Young Man 1832 · Smithsonian American Art Museum Charlotte Cushman (1853), William Page #13 Charlotte Cushman 1853 · National Portrait Gallery

Woman 5 works

Mrs. William Page (1860), William Page #8 Mrs. William Page 1860 · Detroit Institute of Arts Venus Guiding Eneas and the Trojans to the Latin Shore (1862), William Page #11 Venus Guiding Eneas and the Trojans to the Latin Shore 1862 · Smithsonian American Art Museum Sarah Leaning on a Bannister (1840), William Page #14 Sarah Leaning on a Bannister 1840 · Smithsonian American Art Museum Untitled (La Bella) (1852), William Page #10 Untitled (La Bella) 1852 · Smithsonian American Art Museum

Dark tones 3 works

Colonel William Leete Stone (1839), William Page #5 Colonel William Leete Stone 1839 · Cleveland Museum of Art Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 (1859), William Page #1 Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 1859 · Yale University Art Gallery Sarah Leaning on a Bannister (1840), William Page #14 Sarah Leaning on a Bannister 1840 · Smithsonian American Art Museum

The museums that keep William Page's originals

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by William Page Paintings from this list
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.Smithsonian American Art Museum Washington, D.C. 8 Shakespeare Reading, Moses, Aaron and Hur on Mount Horeb, Untitled (La Bella)
Harvard Art Museums, CambridgeHarvard Art Museums Cambridge 6 Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867), Josiah Quincy (1772-1864), Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford (1753-1814), after Moritz Kellerhoven (1758-1830)
Museum of Fine Arts, BostonMuseum of Fine Arts Boston 3 Mrs. Abraham Conger (Mary Rutgers McCrea Hedges), William Lloyd Garrison, Harriet Hosmer
Detroit Institute of Arts, DetroitDetroit Institute of Arts Detroit 2 Mrs. William Page, Self Portrait
Yale University Art Gallery, New HavenYale University Art Gallery New Haven 1 Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846
Cleveland Museum of Art, ClevelandCleveland Museum of Art Cleveland 1 Colonel William Leete Stone
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, San FranciscoFine Arts Museums of San Francisco San Francisco 1 Cupid and Psyche
National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.National Portrait Gallery Washington, D.C. 1 Charlotte Cushman

William Page, one signature painting per decade

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

William Page's paintings: the gallery answers

Which William Page painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer

Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 (1859), Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven. Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) (1845) and Shakespeare Reading (1873) come next.

How old was William Page on completing Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846?Reveal the answer

48 years old: Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846 dates from 1859, and William Page was born in 1811.

Which are William Page's top 10 paintings?Reveal the answer

Henry Stevens (1819-1886), B.A. 1843, M.A. 1846, Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867), Shakespeare Reading, Josiah Quincy (1772-1864), Colonel William Leete Stone, Sir Benjamin Thompson, later Count Rumford (1753-1814), after Moritz Kellerhoven (1758-1830), Moses, Aaron and Hur on Mount Horeb, Mrs. William Page, Cupid and Psyche and Untitled (La Bella). The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works did William Page create?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 26 works by William Page, dated from 1820 to 1875.

Where do William Page's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Smithsonian American Art Museum (Washington, D.C.), Harvard Art Museums (Cambridge) and Museum of Fine Arts (Boston). The museum table above lists them all.

When did William Page create the most famous paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1840s: 8 of the 26 works on this page were made then, Charles Greely Loring (1794-1867) among them.

Which are William Page's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is View of Athens (1820) and the latest Charles William Eliot (1834-1926) (1875).

Which subjects did William Page return to most?Reveal the answer

Man (8), Portrait (7) and Woman (5), across the 26 works on this page.

Which medium did William Page work in most?Reveal the answer

Oil On Canvas, for 12 of the 26 works on this page.

Which movement is William Page associated with?Reveal the answer

Academic realism, judging by the originals on this page.

Which William Page originals does the Smithsonian American Art Museum hold?Reveal the answer

Shakespeare Reading, Moses, Aaron and Hur on Mount Horeb and Untitled (La Bella): the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. holds 8 of the works on this page.

William Page: the artist

The Life and Artistic Journey of William Page

Born in Albany, United States, William Page was a versatile American painter and portrait artist. His early training began in the office of Frederick de Peyster, followed by studies in the studio of James Herring. He eventually became a pupil of Samuel F. Morse and enrolled at the National Academy of Design, where his drawings in the antique class earned him a silver medal. After a brief period studying theology at the Andover Theological Seminar and Amherst College, he returned to the world of art.

Page's career saw him move between New York and Boston, eventually spending eleven years residing in Florence and Rome. During his time in Italy, he painted portraits of notable figures such as Robert and Elizabeth Browning. He was deeply inspired by the works of the great masters, particularly Titian, whose painting method he sought to discover. His copies of Titian's works were so remarkable that one was once seized by Florentine authorities under the belief that it was an original.

Notable Works and Legacy

Throughout his career, Page executed a wide array of subjects, from religious scenes like "Moses and Aaron on Mount Horeb" and "The Holy Family" to portraits of prominent individuals. His portraiture included likenesses of:

In addition to his painting, Page was a man of diverse interests; he wrote A New Geometrical Method of Measuring the Human Figure and held patents for various improvements in guns and boats. He died on Staten Island.

All 26 works by William Page →