Admiral Adam Duncan (1731–1804)
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
Oval, 2 x 1 1/2 in. (50 x 40 mm)
Classification
Miniatures
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Mary Clark Thompson, 1923
Accession Number
24.80.524
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite ivory miniature portrait depicts Admiral Adam Duncan (1731–1804), a celebrated British naval hero best known for his decisive victory at the Battle ofperdown in 1797. During the French Revolutionary Wars, Duncan's triumph over the Dutch fleet secured British naval supremacy in the North Sea, earning him a viscountcy and enduring fame. Crafted by Philip Jean, a skilled London-based miniaturist active in the late 18th early 19th centuries, the oval piece measures just 2 x 1 ½ inches (50 x 40 mm), perfect for intimate wear as a brooch, locket, or private keepsake. Miniatures like ...