William Young

Art Historical Context

This delicate miniature portrait of William Young, painted by James Peale in 1807, captures the refined tastes of early American society. Created in watercolor on ivory, the work exemplifies the intimate art form favored by the new nation’s elite. Measuring just 2 3/4 by 2 1/4 inches, such portraits were often worn as jewelry or kept in private cases, serving as cherished tokens of friendship, family, or status. Peale, a leading figure in the Peale family of artists, brought remarkable skill to this medium. Watercolor on ivory demanded precision and patience; thin layers of pigment allowed light to reflect off the ivory’s surface, creating luminous skin tones and lifelike depth within a tiny format. The result feels both personal and timeless, inviting close inspection. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum’s American Wing, the piece reflects the cultural importance of portraiture in the young United States. These small treasures helped shape individual and national identity during the Federal era, preserving faces and stories across generations.

About the Artist

James Peale · 1749–1831

James Peale was an American painter born in 1749, the younger brother of the more famous Charles Willson Peale, and a member of one of the most remarkable artistic families in the history of American art. Trained largely by his brother, James worked for many years in Charles Willson's shadow, assisting with portraits and miniatures in the Philadelphia studio before developing his own independent p...