Portrait of a Woman
possibly ca. 1780
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
Oval, 2 1/4 x 1 7/8 in. (58 x 48 mm)
Classification
Miniatures
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Margaret Crane Hurlbut, 1933
Accession Number
33.136.14
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate *Portrait of a Woman*, by British miniaturist Richard Crosse around1780, exemplifies the exquisite art of enamel painting on ivory. Measuring just 2¼ x 1⅞ inches in an oval format, this tiny jewel-like work was designed for intimate viewing—likely worn as a locket, brooch, or pendant. Crosse, active in London during the late 18th century, specialized in these luminous miniatures, capturing the refined elegance of Georgian society with meticulous detail and vibrant color. Miniatures like this one held profound cultural significance in the 1700s, serving as personal tokens of affe...