Button
late 18th century
Classification
costume & accessories
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of R. Keith Kane from the Estate of Mrs. Robert B. Noyes
Accession Number
1949-94-15
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection costume and accessories, *Button* by Italian artist Agostino Bruniasca. 1730–1796) offers a glimpse into late th-century craftsmanship. Brunias, best known for his vibrant paintings of West Indian life, including portraits of free people of color and plantation scenes, ventured into smaller-scale works like this enigmatic button. Created during a period when he was active in the Caribbean, it reflects the era's blend of European artistry and colonial influences. Buttons in the late 1700s were far more than functional fasteners; they ...