Artwork
Mrs. Robert Macomb (Mary Cornell Pell )
Mrs. Robert Macomb (Mary Cornell Pell ) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Edward Greene Malbone. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Mrs.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in 1806 in watercolor on ivory, the work is classified as a portrait within The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The painting portrays Mary Cornell Pell Macomb, a young woman from a prominent New York family, as a straightforward portrait. Executed in 1806 in watercolor on ivory, the work is classified as a portrait within The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The sources identify the sitter simply as ‘Mary Cornell Pell Macomb’ and note that the image functions as a likeness typical of early American portraiture, without additional allegorical attributes or symbolic motifs.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1806, the miniature is rendered in watercolor on a small ivory support, consistent with early nineteenth-century American miniature practice. The handling is precise and linear, with delicate hatching to model the sitter’s features and costume, and translucent washes to suggest the fall of light across the face and ruffled collar. The ivory’s smooth, reflective surface enhances the luminosity of the flesh tones and the crisp definition of the lacework.
Stylistically, the work adheres to the neoclassical portrait conventions of the period, emphasizing clarity, symmetry, and restrained elegance in both physiognomy and attire.
History & Provenance
The miniature portrait Mrs. Robert Macomb (Mary Cornell Pell) was painted by Edward Greene Malbone in 1806 in watercolor on ivory. The sitter, Mary Cornell Pell Macomb, was the wife of Robert Macomb, a figure associated with early nineteenth-century American society. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing, and measures 9.5 centimeters in height by 7.6 centimeters in width.
The available sources confirm the museum's possession of the piece but do not list a specific accession number or any exhibition history for this portrait.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Mrs. Robert Macomb, also known as Mary Cornell Pell, rendered in watercolor on ivory. The artwork presents a woman in a white dress, her hair styled upwards, set against a dark backdrop. Measuring no larger than a playing card, this intimate scale suggests its function as a personal object rather than a public display.
Context
Miniature portraits like this one frequently functioned as portable keepsakes during the period. Their small size made them suitable for integration into jewelry, such as lockets or brooches, allowing individuals to carry images of their loved ones discreetly. This practice underscores the intimate and sentimental value these artworks held, serving as tangible reminders of personal connections.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Greene Malbone (1777 – May 7, 1807) was an American painter, and the most sought-after miniaturist of his day.
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