Artwork
Mrs. James G. Almy (Myra Eliot)
Mrs. James G. Almy (Myra Eliot) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Edward Greene Malbone. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This intimate portrait, titled Mrs.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Almy, rendered as an intimate bust-length portrait miniature in the manner typical of late-eighteenth-century American portraiture.
The watercolor on ivory portrays Myra Eliot Almy, the wife of James G. Almy, rendered as an intimate bust-length portrait miniature in the manner typical of late-eighteenth-century American portraiture. The work's subject is identified directly as Myra Eliot Almy, depicted as a woman in a formal sitter's pose consistent with Edward Greene Malbone's portrait practice of the period. As a keepsake portrait intended for private viewing, the miniature likely carried personal significance for the Almy family, functioning both as a likeness and as a sentimental object commemorating the sitter.
The compact scale, measuring roughly 7.9 by 6 inches, reinforces its character as a portable, personal memento rather than a public commission, aligning with the conventions of ivory miniatures exchanged among family members and intimates in the 1790s.
Technique & Style
The miniature is executed in watercolor on ivory, a technique favored for its luminous transparency and intimate scale in late-eighteenth-century American portraiture. Malbone’s handling is characterized by delicate stippling and fine, controlled brushwork that captures the sitter’s features with subtle modeling, particularly in the soft transitions of the face and the restrained rendering of costume details. The oval format and restrained palette emphasize refined elegance, while the ivory support contributes a subtle glow to the overall tonality. The condition appears stable, with no significant losses or discoloration reported in institutional records.
History & Provenance
Created in 1798, the watercolor on ivory portrait of Myra Eliot Almy was executed by the American artist Edward Greene Malbone. The work depicts Mrs. James G. Almy and is classified as a portrait within the American Wing genre. While the specific commission details and the chain of private ownership prior to its current location are not detailed in the available records, the piece is firmly dated to the late eighteenth century.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it resides as a significant example of Malbone's miniature portraiture from that period.
The watercolor on ivory portrait of Mrs. James G. Almy (Myra Eliot) is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available sources. The sources likewise document no exhibition history for the work beyond its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's holdings.
Overview
This intimate portrait, titled Mrs. James G. Almy (Myra Eliot), depicts a young woman rendered in watercolor on ivory. The artwork is a miniature, designed for personal contemplation rather than public display. It captures the subject with a direct gaze, her dark hair framing a composed expression, presented within the American Wing collection.
Context
Portrait miniatures served a significant social function during their era, allowing individuals to keep images of cherished family members or romantic partners close at hand. These small-scale works, often carried in pockets or worn as jewelry, provided a private connection to distant loved ones. Artists specialized in this format, creating highly personal mementos that transcended mere representation.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Greene Malbone (1777 – May 7, 1807) was an American painter, and the most sought-after miniaturist of his day.
