Portrait of a Young Woman
ca. 1790
Medium
Ivory
Dimensions
Oval, 2 3/4 x 2 1/8 in. (70 x 55 mm)
Classification
Miniatures
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Collis P. Huntington, 1900
Accession Number
26.168.45
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the late 18th century, artist Peter Adolf Hall crafted this delicate *Portrait of a Young Woman around 1790, exemplifying the intimate art of miniature painting. Hall, renowned for his work in Paris's aristocratic circles—including at the court of Marie Antoinette—specialized small-scale portraits that captured the elegance of the Rococo-to-Neoclassical transition. This oval ivory miniature, measuring just 2¾ x 2⅛ inches, depicts a poised young woman with soft features and period attire, inviting viewers into a world of refined portraiture. Painted on ivory, a prized medium for miniatures ...