Emily Appleton

About this artwork

This miniature of Emily Appleton (1821-1844) in inscribed on the back of the locket with her name and death date, and includes a lock of the young woman’s hair. These clues suggest that this is a memorial miniature.

Art Historical Context

This delicate miniature portrait captures Emily Appleton (1821–1844) in a tender bust-length pose, created around the time of her early death. Inscribed on the back of its locket with name and date of passing, the work also preserves a lock of her hair, marking it as a memorial piece meant to honor and remember a young life. Such personal tokens offered families a lasting, intimate connection to loved ones in an era before photography became widespread. Painted by Sarah Goodridge, a skilled 19th-century American artist renowned for her miniature portraits, the piece exemplifies the intimate scale and meticulous detail of this medium. Executed on a small support, likely ivory, these works were designed to be worn or carried close, blending fine painting techniques with sentimental value. Acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, it now invites visitors to reflect on the quiet power of remembrance in early American art.

About the Artist

Sarah Goodridge · 1788–1853

Sarah Goodridge (1788–1853) was a pioneering American miniaturist whose exquisite portrait miniatures captured the likenesses of prominent figures during the early republic. Born on February 5 in Templeton, Massachusetts, as the sixth of nine children to farmer Ebenezer Goodridge and Beulah Childs, she displayed artistic talent from childhood despite limited resources. Largely self-taught, she ske...