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
1949-94-16
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Agostino Brunias (ca. 1730–1796), an Italian painter known for his vibrant depictions of Caribbean life during the late 18th century, created this intriguing artifact titled *Button*. Active in the West Indies after emigrating from Europe, Brunias captured the diverse cultures, free people of color, and societies of islands like Dominica and St. Vincent often under the patronage of British officials. His works blend Rococo elegance with ethnographic detail, offering rare glimpses into a multicultural colonial world. Classified as a costume and accessory in the Smithsonian American Art Museum'...