Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Frederick R. Spencer. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2008.97
- Credit line
- Dale T. Johnson Fund, 2008
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work shows a solitary woman rendered in watercolor on ivory, a format typical of early‑19th‑century portrait miniatures.
The work shows a solitary woman rendered in watercolor on ivory, a format typical of early‑19th‑century portrait miniatures. As a portrait in The American Wing’s collection, it functions as a study of genteel femininity, emphasizing the sitter’s poise and modest dress rather than overt narrative or symbolic attributes. The depiction aligns with contemporary portrait conventions that sought to capture the subject’s presence and social identity, while the limited iconography leaves the meaning primarily tied to the artist’s intent to record a likeness of an unnamed lady of the period.
Technique & Style
The Portrait of a Lady by Frederick R. Spencer is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a medium noted in the object's record. The work measures roughly 6.7 × 5.7 (units as documented) and portrays a woman, consistent with its classification as a portrait. The technique employs delicate washes and fine detailing typical of early‑19th‑century American watercolor portraiture, creating a soft yet precise rendering of facial features and attire.
No condition issues are specified in the available documentation, and the piece remains part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
History & Provenance
Frederick R. Spencer created the watercolor on ivory known as Portrait of a Lady in 1830. The work, which depicts an unidentified woman, measures approximately 6.7 by 5.7 units. While the specific original commissioner and the complete chain of private ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing. The inception date is firmly established as 1830, marking its creation during the early nineteenth century.
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is catalogued as a watercolor on ivory portrait by Frederick R. Spencer. It was accessioned into the museum’s collection with the inventory number 1975.1.1038. The painting has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of its American Wing holdings, though specific exhibition records are not detailed in the cited sources.
Overview
Created by American artist Frederick Randolph Spencer in 1830, Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor miniature on ivory. This work exemplifies the American folk art tradition and features an unidentified woman. Spencer, who specialized in portraiture throughout his career, produced this piece, which is now housed within the American Wing of the museum's collection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Frederick Randolph Spencer (7 June 1806, Lenox, New York - 3 April 1875, Wampsville, New York) was an American portrait painter.
Mrs. James Bleecker (Elizabeth Garland Bache)
Portrait of a Lady
Mrs. James Bleecker (Sarah Bache)
Portrait of Susan Coren Towers
Portrait of a Woman
Portrait of a Lady
Clarissa Storrs
Mrs. Gabriel Manigault (Margaret Izard)
Mrs. Abijah Cheever (Elizabeth Scott)
Portret van een vrouw
Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Miniature- Mrs. Nathaniel Chapman (Rebekah Biddle)