Portrait of a Gentleman with Initials J. B.
ca. 1795
Medium
Painting-Miniature
Classification
Painting-Miniature
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund
Accession Number
1954.6.4
Tags
About this artwork
On the back of this miniature the initials âJBâ are monogrammed in gold over hairwork, offering the only clue we have to the identity of the sitter. This piece was originally attributed to Raphaelle Peale, of the Philadelphia family of painters, but was later determined to have been the work of Benjamin Trott.
Art Historical Context
This exquisite miniature portrait, *Portrait of a Gentleman withs J. B.*, by Benjamin Trott around 1795, captures the refined elegance of late 18th-century Americanure. Trott, a skilled miniaturist, specialized in these tiny, jewel-like paintings—often no larger than a coin—that served as intimate keepsakes for loved ones. Rendered in a bust-length, the work showcases the sitter's poised demeanor, highlighting Trott's mastery of delicate brushwork and subtle shading on ivory or vellum, typical of the medium's luminous quality. A fascinating mystery lingers on the reverse: the initials "J.B." ...