Mary House

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, *Mary House* (ca. 1795) is a delicate watercolor profile portrait by Mary Way, an accomplished American miniaturist active in the late 18th century. Depicting a young girl in profile, this intimate work measures just 2 7/8 x 2 3/8 inches, typical of miniatures designed for personal keepsakes—often worn as jewelry or tucked into pockets as tokens of affection. Way's technique shines in her use of watercolor on paper augmented with linen additions, which likely enhanced the silhouette's crisp edges and textured depth, evoking the popula...