Artwork
Cornelius George Bowler
Cornelius George Bowler is a watercolor painting by the American Impressionist artist Edward Greene Malbone. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting titled 'Cornelius George Bowler' portrays a male sitter identified by name, rendered in watercolor on ivory by Edward Greene Malbone in 1795.
The painting titled 'Cornelius George Bowler' portrays a male sitter identified by name, rendered in watercolor on ivory by Edward Greene Malbone in 1795. As documented in the work's classification within The American Wing and corroborated by Wikidata, the composition belongs to the portrait genre and depicts a man, confirming the subject’s identity as Cornelius George Bowler. The sources record the piece’s dimensions, its location in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and its status as a portrait, but they do not elaborate on iconographic details or symbolic attributes associated with the figure.
Consequently, the work’s meaning is presented solely as a straightforward likeness of the named sitter without additional allegorical interpretation.
Technique & Style
Created in 1795, this portrait utilizes watercolor applied to an ivory support, a medium characteristic of miniature painting during the period. The work measures approximately 5.3 by 4 units, indicating a small-scale format intended for intimate viewing. As a piece classified within the American Wing genre of portraiture, the technique relies on the translucency of watercolors to render the likeness of a male subject against the luminous background of the ivory.
The handling of the medium suggests a focus on delicate detail suitable for the constraints of the small dimensions. The specific combination of watercolor and ivory defines the material identity of the artwork, distinguishing it from oil paintings on canvas or panel common in larger contemporary portraits.
History & Provenance
The watercolor portrait titled Cornelius George Bowler was created in 1795 by American artist Edward Greene Malbone using watercolor on ivory. It portrays a man and is classified as a portrait within The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been part of the museum’s collection since its acquisition. The work’s provenance traces its ownership to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which maintains it in its permanent holdings.
Its creation history is documented by a 1795 date and dimensions of 5.3 by 4 inches, confirming its status as an early American portrait.
The watercolor on ivory portrait of Cornelius George Bowler by Edward Greene Malbone is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing. According to the museum's cataloging data, the work entered the collection and is identified as a portrait of a man. No specific accession number, acquisition date, or prior exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
Overview
This miniature portrait, Cornelius George Bowler, was created by Edward Greene Malbone around 1795. Executed in watercolor on ivory, it exemplifies the artist's refined approach to this intimate art form. Malbone was a prominent American miniaturist of his era, recognized for his ability to capture detailed likenesses within a small format. His works were highly sought after across major cities in the United States and in London.
Context
Before the advent of photography, miniature portraits served as a primary means for individuals to carry images of family members or loved ones. These small-scale artworks, often set into lockets or small cases, were intimate objects worn close to the body or kept privately. They provided a tangible connection to absent individuals, functioning as cherished personal keepsakes in an era without instant visual reproduction.
Legacy
Edward Greene Malbone's promising career as a miniaturist was tragically brief. Despite his early death at the age of 30 in 1807, his contributions significantly shaped the development of American miniature painting. His refined technique and ability to capture character within such a small scale left a lasting influence on the genre, securing his reputation as a pivotal figure in early American art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Greene Malbone (1777 – May 7, 1807) was an American painter, and the most sought-after miniaturist of his day.
