Gorham L. Freeman
1813
Medium
Watercolor on ivory
Dimensions
3 1/8 x 2 9/16 in. (7.9 x 6.7 cm)
Classification
Painting, miniature
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Glenn Tilley Morse Collection, Bequest of Glenn Tilley Morse, 1950
Accession Number
50.187.49
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the early 19th century, miniatures like *Gorham L. Freeman (1813) by Henry Williams the elegance of America's Federal era. This intimate watercolor on ivory depicts a poised gentleman, likely a figure of local prominence, rendered at a diminutive 3 1/8 x 2 9/16 inches—perfect for a locket, brooch, or private keepsake. Williams, a Boston-based artist, specialized in such delicate likenesses, which served as cherished mementos for families separated by travel or the uncertainties of the War of 1812. The choice of watercolor on ivory exemplifies the technical virtuosity of miniature painting....