Portrait Miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette

Art Historical Context

This exquisite portrait miniature captures the noble profile of the Marquis de Lafayette, the French aristocrat and Revolutionary War hero who became a key ally to George Washington. Dating from 1770–1800, it reflects the era's admiration for Lafayette's bravery during the American fight for independence, where he fought at battles like Brandywine and Yorktown, embodying transatlantic ideals of liberty. Crafted in the rare medium of papier-mâché—a lightweight, molded pulp painted to mimic more precious materials like ivory—this 3¼-inch (8.3 cm) diameter piece exemplifies 18th-century miniatur...