Artwork
Miss Chambers
Miss Chambers is an ivory painting by the Rococo painting artist Isabella Beetham. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1782, the miniature portrait Miss Chambers is painted in watercolor on ivory, a common support for British portrait miniatures of the period.
Executed in 1782, the miniature portrait Miss Chambers is painted in watercolor on ivory, a common support for British portrait miniatures of the period. The handling combines fine stippled flesh tones with delicate glazes to articulate the sitter’s features and the lace ruffle at her neck. The 59 × 48 mm scale and refined brushwork reflect the intimate, jewel-like character expected of late-eighteenth-century English miniature portraiture. No later condition reports are cited, so its present state remains unverified.
History & Provenance
The ivory miniature portrait Miss Chambers was created by the British artist Isabella Beetham in 1782. The work is recorded as a portrait genre piece, depicting a woman and held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The painting’s dimensions are 59 mm in height and 48 mm in width.
Beetham, known for her miniature portraits, executed the work during a period when such small-scale ivory portraits were fashionable among British elites. The Metropolitan Museum of Art lists the painting as part of its holdings, with no further provenance details provided in the cited sources.
Overview
Isabella Beetham's Miss Chambers, created in 1792, is a miniature portrait painted on ivory. This Rococo-style work depicts a woman with delicate features and ruffled attire, showcasing Beetham's skill in small-scale portraiture. The piece is currently part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, representing a notable example of 18th-century British artistry.
Subject & Meaning
The oval composition presents a woman with light, softly curled hair, her gaze directed slightly away from the viewer, conveying a serene demeanor. She wears a dress featuring a high neckline adorned with a lace ruffle, characteristic of late 18th-century fashion. The portrait captures a sense of refined elegance, reflecting the prevailing aesthetic preferences of the Rococo period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Isabella Beetham was an 18th-century British silhouette artist. She began her career by cutting the silhouette images. After studying painting with successful miniature portraitist John Smart, Beetham painted…
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