Portrait of Augustine Taylor
1777–94
Medium
Watercolor on ivory
Dimensions
4.7 × 3.4 cm (1 13/16 × 1 5/16 in.)
Classification
miniature painting
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
20475
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago Arts of the Americas collection, John Ramage's *Portrait of Augustine Taylor*1777–94) exemplifies the delicate art of 18th-century miniature painting. Crafted in watercolor on ivory, this intimate 4.7 × 3.4 cm gem captures the sitter's likeness with exquisite precision, a technique prized for its luminous translucency and fine detail. Ivory's smooth, non-absorbent surface allowed artists like Ramage to layer pigments for lifelike skin tones and subtle expressions, making these portraits perfect for lockets, brooches, or pocket cases—personal treasures wo...
About the Artist
John Ramage · 1748–1842
Ireland ca. 1748–1802 Montreal