Artwork
Maurice Levy
Maurice Levy is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Ezra Ames. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
5 centimeters by 6 centimeters and belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed in The American Wing.
Maurice Levy is an 1820 watercolor portrait on ivory attributed to Ezra Ames. The painting measures about 7.5 centimeters by 6 centimeters and belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed in The American Wing. It portrays a man in a straightforward portrait format, rendered with delicate washes.
As a miniature on ivory, the work is a fragile object requiring careful handling to maintain its condition.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Maurice Levy was created in 1820 by the American artist Ezra Ames. Executed as a watercolor on ivory, the work measures 7.5 centimeters in height and 6 centimeters in width. The miniature entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is housed within The American Wing, and depicts a man as a formal portrait from the early nineteenth century.
Overview
Ezra Ames, a prolific portraitist active in Albany, New York, created this small-scale watercolor on ivory depicting Maurice Levy around 1820. The artwork presents a formal bust-length portrait of a man, characteristic of the period's demand for personal likenesses. Ames rendered the subject in formal attire, looking directly forward, capturing a detailed representation within the miniature format.
Context
Ezra Ames established himself as a prominent portrait painter in Albany, New York, during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. His extensive practice resulted in over 700 known portraits, reflecting the era's widespread desire for personal likenesses. Works like Maurice Levy demonstrate Ames's skill in meeting this demand, contributing to the visual record of individuals in early American society.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ezra Ames (May 5, 1768 – February 23, 1836) was a popular portrait painter in Albany, New York, during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. More than 700 portraits have been attributed to him.
