Elizabeth Ann Timothy
ca. 1775–85
Medium
Watercolor and gouache on ivory
Dimensions
1 1/2 x 1 1/8 in. (3.7 x 3 cm)
Classification
Painting, miniature
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.286
Tags
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the intimate scale of a miniature portrait, *Elizabeth Ann Timothy* by Benbridge captures the elegance of late colonial America around 1775–85. Rendered in watercolor and gouache on ivory, this delicate 1½ x 1⅛-inch gem exemplifies the era's fascination with personal keepsakes. Benbridge, a skilled itinerant painter trained in Europe, brought refined English portrait traditions to the American colonies, creating likenesses that could adorn lockets or brooches as cherished mementos of loved ones. The choice of medium was no accident: ivory's smooth surface allowed for luminous detai...