Artwork
Jasper Ely Cropsey
Jasper Ely Cropsey is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Ebenezer Mack. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A young man in a crisp dark coat looks straight out against soft gray, his hair neatly combed, a faint smile on his face. This is Jasper Ely Cropsey, painted by Ebenezer Mack in 1794, years before Cropsey became a landscape painter himself. Only inches tall, the watercolor on ivory was made to be carried close.
Subject & Meaning
The depiction emphasizes the sitter's identity through conventional portraiture, focusing on his likeness rather than allegorical or symbolic elements.
The painting portrays Jasper Ely Cropsey as a male sitter, presented in a straightforward portrait format. Executed in 1794 as a watercolor on ivory, the work was created by Ebenezer Mack and is classified within the portrait genre. It belongs to The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The depiction emphasizes the sitter's identity through conventional portraiture, focusing on his likeness rather than allegorical or symbolic elements.
Technique & Style
The portrait of Jasper Ely Cropsey, painted in 1794, is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a technique typical of early American portrait miniatures. Measuring approximately 6.4 × 4.8 cm, the work was created by Ebenezer Mack and entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is housed in The American Wing. The composition presents the sitter in a conventional pose, emphasizing facial detail and subtle modeling of light on the ivory surface.
As a portrait miniature, the piece reflects the formal conventions of late-18th-century American portraiture, combining delicate brushwork with the luminous quality of the ivory ground.
History & Provenance
Jasper Ely Cropsey is a watercolor on ivory portrait painted in 1794 by the American artist Ebenezer Mack. It portrays the male subject Jasper Ely Cropsey and is classified within the portrait genre. The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of The American Wing.
Its dimensions are approximately 6.4 by 4.8 cm. No specific accession number or documented exhibition history is available in the provided sources.
Overview
This miniature portrait, created in 1794, depicts Jasper Ely Cropsey, who would later achieve renown as a landscape painter. Rendered in watercolor on a small ivory support, the artwork captures the young man in an intimate scale, reflecting a common practice of the era. Its delicate execution and portable size suggest it was intended for personal contemplation, serving as a cherished memento before the advent of photographic technology.
Context
In the late eighteenth century, before the invention of photography, miniature portraits served as a primary means of preserving and carrying images of loved ones. These small, often oval, artworks were designed to be highly portable, much like modern wallet photographs. Their personal scale and precious materials made them intimate objects, allowing individuals to maintain a constant visual connection with absent family members or romantic partners.
Artist & collection
