Portrait of a Lady
Unknown Artist
1825–30
Medium
Watercolor on ivory in gilded copper case
Dimensions
2 7/16 x 1 15/16 in. (6.2 x 4.9 cm)
Classification
Painting, miniature
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 2006
Accession Number
2006.235.220
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Portrait of a Lady*, by an unknown American artist between 1825 1830, exemplifies the intimate art of miniature portraiture popular in early 19th-century America Measuring just 2 7/16 x 1 15/16 inches (6.2 x 4.9 cm), it was painted in watercolor on ivory and housed in a luxurious gilded copper case, making it ideal for wearing as a locket or carrying as a personal keepsake. These tiny gems captured the likenesses of loved ones, serving as emotional talismans during travels, separations, or as tokens of affection in courtship and marriage. The medium of watercolor on ivory allow...