John Payne Todd
ca. 1817
Medium
Watercolor on ivory
Dimensions
2 5/8 x 2 1/16 in. (6.7 x 5.26 cm)
Classification
Painting, miniature
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Miss Mary Madison McGuire, 1936
Accession Number
36.73
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate miniature portrait of John Payne Todd, painted around 1817 by American artist Joseph Wood, exemplifies the intimate art of watercolor on ivory that flourished in the early nineteenth century. Measuring just over two and a half inches tall, the work captures its subject with remarkable precision in a format designed for personal possession. Such miniatures were often worn or carried as keepsakes, reflecting the era’s emphasis on private sentiment and social connection. Joseph Wood, active in New York and Philadelphia, specialized in these small-scale likenesses that combined tech...
About the Artist
Joseph Wood · 1778–1830
1778–1830