Artwork
Charles Henry Hall
Charles Henry Hall is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Anne Hall. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition is tightly cropped, presenting the sitter from the chest up and emphasizing costume details such as the coat, cravat, and buttons.
The miniature is executed in watercolor on ivory, a refined support favored for small-scale portraiture in the early nineteenth century. The composition is tightly cropped, presenting the sitter from the chest up and emphasizing costume details such as the coat, cravat, and buttons. The work measures approximately 5.1 by 4 inches, consistent with the intimate scale typical of the format.
Hall's handling reflects the careful, linear approach characteristic of American miniaturists working in this medium, with delicate modeling of the face and precise rendering of fabric and accessories. The painting is classified within the portrait genre and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The miniature portrait of Charles Henry Hall by Anne Hall is dated to 1820, aligning with the early nineteenth-century tradition of ivory miniatures in America. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held. The painting depicts Hall in a coat and cravat, consistent with fashionable male portraiture of the period, and measures approximately 5.1 cm in height and 4 cm in width.
The artist, Anne Hall, was active in New York during the early 1800s, and this portrait represents one of her known works from that decade.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Charles Henry Hall, rendered in watercolor on a piece of ivory. The small-scale work, designed to be held in the hand, captures the sitter in a dark coat, accented by a single gold button. Such intimate portraits were popular during the period, offering a personal likeness of an individual.
Context
Miniature portraits, like this depiction of Charles Henry Hall, served a distinct social function. Often created to be small enough for personal adornment, they were frequently set into jewelry, such as pendants or brooches, or enclosed within lockets. This allowed individuals to carry a cherished image of a loved one close to them, reflecting a common practice of sentimental remembrance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ann (or Anne) Hall (1792–1863) was an American painter and miniaturist. Ann Hall has been described as the most successful miniature painter active in early nineteenth-century New York, renowned for her engaging…
