Mrs. John Nightingale (Martha Washington Greene)
ca. 1797
Medium
Watercolor on ivory
Dimensions
2 11/16 x 2 5/32 in. (6.8 x 5.5 cm)
Classification
Painting, miniature
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Moses Lazarus Collection, Gift of Josephine and Sarah Lazarus, in memory of their father, 1888-95
Accession Number
95.14.100
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the refined world of Federal-era America with Edward Greene Malbone delicate miniature portrait, *Mrs. John Nightingale (Martha Washington Greene)*, painted around 1797. This on ivory, a mere 2⅞ x 2¼ inches, exemplifies the intimate scale of 18th-century portrait mini, often worn as jewelry or kept as private treasures. Malbone, a American miniaturist active in the post-Revolutionary period, was renowned for his masterful handling of translucent watercolor on polished ivory. The medium allowed for luminous skin tones, intricate lace details, and subtle expressions, capturing the sitter's poise with astonishing precision despite the tiny format. These works were highly sought after by the elite, blending European techniques with emerging American identity. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this piece from The Moses Lazarus Collection offers a glimpse into early U.S. cultural life, where such portraits symbolized affection, status, and familial bonds in a new nation. Its enduring appeal lies in Malbone's ability to infuse miniature scale with monumental presence.
About the Artist
Edward Greene Malbone · 1777–1807
1777–1807