Portrait of Catherine Clemens and Her Son, John Marcus Clemens
Medium
watercolor on ivory in a gold and split pearl frame
Dimensions
framed: 9 × 7.3 cm · sight: 8 × 6.1 cm
Classification
Portrait Miniature
Department
Modern European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Edward B. Greene Collection
Accession Number
1941.552
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
This sensitive portrait of Catherine Clemens and her son, John Marcus, was painted around 1800 and exemplifies the prettiness for which Cosway was so well known. The artist’s trademark turquoise blue sky is reflected in the boy’s brilliant blue eyes and the bow on the frock that slips informally off his shoulder. This miniature also showcases Cosway’s mature technique of delicate stipplework throughout the faces, contrasted with looser brushstrokes for the hair and garments. Both John Marcus and...