Portrait of a Gentleman
ca. 1785
Medium
Watercolor on ivory
Dimensions
1 1/2 x 1 in. (3.7 x 2.5 cm)
Classification
Painting, miniature
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Maria DeWitt Jesup Fund, 1992
Accession Number
1992.311.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 18th century, miniaturist William Verstille captured elegance of the emerging Federal-era elite in his *Portrait of a Gentleman* (ca. 1785). This exquisite watercolor on ivory, measuring just 1½ x 1 inches, exemplifies the intimate portrait miniatures that were treasured keepsakes—often worn as brooches, lockets, or displayed in cases. Verstille, active in New York and Boston, mastered this delicate medium, layering translucent pigments over polished ivory to achieve luminous skin tones, fine fabrics, and lifelike expressions that conveyed social status and personal refinement. Th...