Artwork
Portrait of the Artist's Children Emma and Paul

Portrait of the Artist's Children Emma and Paul is an unspecified painting by the Neoclassicist artist Jean-Antoine Laurent. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Jean-Antoine Laurent executed Portrait of the Artist's Children Emma and Paul in 1795 as a portrait miniature.
Jean-Antoine Laurent executed Portrait of the Artist's Children Emma and Paul in 1795 as a portrait miniature. This classification defines the work's formal scale and the specific handling techniques associated with the miniature genre, which typically demands precise brushwork on a small support. While the specific materials and support type are not detailed in the available records, the designation as a miniature indicates a refined, intimate approach to portraiture consistent with late 18th-century French artistic practices. The work is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The work was created in 1795 by Jean-Antoine Laurent, as a portrait miniature depicting the artist's children, Emma and Paul. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recorded under the accession number 2012.56, indicating it was accessioned by the museum in 2012.
Overview
Jean-Antoine Laurent's painting, Portrait of the Artist's Children Emma and Paul, dates from 1798. This intimate depiction captures the artist's own children and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art. The circular canvas presents a tender scene, reflecting a common practice of artists portraying their families, offering a glimpse into domestic life at the close of the 18th century.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features two young children, Emma and Paul, seated closely together. The elder child, with curly red-gold hair, wears a white dress adorned with puffy sleeves and a blue neck ribbon. The younger sibling, with lighter hair, is dressed in a simple white garment and holds a small, indistinct object. Both children gaze directly forward, their expressions composed and serene, conveying a sense of quiet innocence.
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