Artwork
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Woman is an ivory painting by Charles Etienne Leguay. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
It portrays a solitary female sitter in a close‑up composition that emphasizes facial features and attire, without additional allegorical symbols.
The painting, titled Portrait of a Woman, is a portrait miniature executed on ivory by Charles Etienne Leguay in 1800. It portrays a solitary female sitter in a close‑up composition that emphasizes facial features and attire, without additional allegorical symbols. The work’s classification as a portrait and the metadata identifying the main subject as a woman confirm that it serves as a personal likeness typical of elite patronage, where such miniatures functioned as status markers and private reminders of identity. The lack of overt symbolic attributes directs attention to the sitter’s individuality rather than narrative allegory.
Technique & Style
Portrait of a Woman is executed in watercolor on ivory, a medium characteristic of early 19th-century miniature portraiture. The work measures 9 by 7.5 centimeters, consistent with the intimate scale typical of portrait miniatures designed for personal keepsake or locket display. The ivory support provides a luminous, smooth surface that enhances the delicate handling of the watercolor medium, allowing for fine detail in the rendering of the sitter's features.
As a miniature portrait, the technique demands precision and controlled brushwork. The painting is classified as both a portrait and a miniature, reflecting its dual identity within the genre. Its small dimensions and refined execution exemplify the formal and stylistic conventions of French miniature painting around 1800.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Woman is an ivory portrait miniature painted in 1800 by Charles Etienne Leguay, depicting an unidentified woman. It measures approximately 9 by 7.5 centimeters and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No earlier owners or commissioning details are documented in the sources, and no specific accession number or exhibition history is recorded.
Overview
This miniature portrait, created by Charles Etienne Leguay in 1800, depicts an unidentified woman. Executed on a small, circular piece of ivory, the painting is a notable example of the period's portraiture. It is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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Artist & collection
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