Artwork
Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Emma (1765–1815), Lady Hamilton
Portrait of a Woman, Said to Be Emma (1765–1815), Lady Hamilton is an ivory painting by Adam Buck. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1804 by Adam Buck, the portrait functions as a pendant, a format traditionally used for personal adornment and intimate exchange.
The work depicts a woman identified as Emma, Lady Hamilton, presented in profile on an ivory miniature. Created in 1804 by Adam Buck, the portrait functions as a pendant, a format traditionally used for personal adornment and intimate exchange. The piece serves primarily as a representational likeness of the sitter, capturing her image for private circulation rather than conveying a broader narrative or allegorical meaning.
Technique & Style
The work is a miniature portrait executed in 1804 on a thin ivory support, a technique typical of early 19th-century British miniaturists. Adam Buck employed fine brushwork and delicate modelling to render the sitter's profile and a pendant, emphasizing the sitter's status. The painting is classified as both a portrait and a miniature and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Its formal composition relies on a tight bust arrangement, a restrained colour palette, and meticulous attention to surface detail, reflecting the precision expected of miniature portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
The miniature portrait of a woman said to be Emma (1765–1815), Lady Hamilton, painted by Adam Buck in 1804 on ivory, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No specific accession number, acquisition date, earlier ownership, or exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
Legacy
Adam Buck's 1804 miniature portrait of Emma, Lady Hamilton, painted on ivory and now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a primary visual record of the celebrated public figure. Its composition, featuring a profile view with a pendant, has contributed to the iconography of Emma Hamilton in scholarship and popular representations of Regency-era culture.
Overview
Adam Buck, an Irish artist, completed this ivory miniature in 1804, depicting a woman believed to be Emma, Lady Hamilton. This small-scale portrait, characteristic of Buck's neoclassical style, features the sitter in a refined pose. It is currently housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a fine example of early 19th-century miniature painting.
Context
Adam Buck, an Irish artist active in Dublin and London, was a notable practitioner of neoclassical portrait miniatures. His oeuvre frequently featured sitters in profile or near-profile, emphasizing refined lines and elegant compositions. This particular work aligns with his specialization in small, intricately detailed portraits, a popular form of personal art during the early 19th century.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Adam Buck (1759 – August 1833) was an Irish artist who specialised in neoclassical portraits, including portrait miniatures, and engravings. He was principally active in Dublin and London.
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