Artwork
Mrs. Samuel Denman (Anna Maria Hampton)
Mrs. Samuel Denman (Anna Maria Hampton) is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist Edward Greene Malbone. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
5 centimeters, provided a luminous ground that Malbone exploited to achieve a soft, translucent flesh tone characteristic of his sitter portraits.
Executed in watercolor on ivory, the miniature portrait of Anna Maria Hampton demonstrates Edward Greene Malbone's command of the small-scale watercolor technique favored in late eighteenth-century American portraiture. The ivory support, measuring approximately 6.8 by 5.5 centimeters, provided a luminous ground that Malbone exploited to achieve a soft, translucent flesh tone characteristic of his sitter portraits. Working in this delicate medium on a smooth, pale support allowed for fine, controlled handling and subtle blending rather than visible brushwork.
The work is classified within the museum's American Wing, consistent with its stylistic and material identity as a refined example of the watercolor-on-ivory miniature tradition.
History & Provenance
Edward Greene Malbone created the watercolor on ivory portrait of Mrs. Samuel Denman (Anna Maria Hampton) in 1792. The work depicts a woman and is classified within the genre of portraiture. Currently, the piece is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically within its American Wing.
While the exact commission details and the chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the provided records, the artwork's inception is firmly dated to 1792. The portrait measures 6.8 units in height and 5.5 units in width, reflecting the miniature format typical of Malbone's practice during this period.
Context
The 1792 watercolor portrait of Mrs. Samuel Denman, identified as Anna Maria Hampton, exemplifies Edward Greene Malbone’s mastery of early American portraiture. Executed in delicate watercolor on ivory, the work measures 6.8 × 5.5 inches and belongs to the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, situating it within the canonical narrative of United States art. Art historians regard the piece as a representative example of the neoclassical style that Malbone introduced to American subjects, highlighting his role in shaping portrait conventions during the post‑Revolutionary period.
Its inclusion in a major museum collection underscores its significance as a benchmark for studying gender representation and elite identity in the young republic.
Overview
Edward Greene Malbone, a prominent American miniaturist of the late 18th century, created this watercolor portrait of Mrs. Samuel Denman (Anna Maria Hampton) in 1792. Executed on ivory, the work exemplifies the delicate and refined aesthetic popular during its period. Malbone was highly regarded for his ability to capture individual likeness and elegance in these small-scale portraits, working in various East Coast cities and London before his premature death at age 30.
Subject & Meaning
This miniature presents Anna Maria Hampton, also known as Mrs. Samuel Denman, in a formal pose. She is depicted wearing a white dress, her dark hair styled high with a single curl falling to her shoulder, and her hands gently holding a closed fan. Such portraits emphasized capturing the sitter's individual likeness and conveying a sense of refined elegance, reflecting the social conventions and aesthetic preferences of the late 18th century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Edward Greene Malbone (1777 – May 7, 1807) was an American painter, and the most sought-after miniaturist of his day.
