Artwork
Cover for a Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman
Cover for a Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman is an unspecified painting by the Neoclassicist artist Jean-Urbain Guérin. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
History & Provenance
The cover for a snuff box featuring a portrait of a young woman was created by the French artist Jean-Urbain Guérin in 1805.
The cover for a snuff box featuring a portrait of a young woman was created by the French artist Jean-Urbain Guérin in 1805. Classified as a miniature painting, the work is currently held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is cataloged under the accession number 2008.293.b. The object serves as a decorative cover for a snuff box, integrating portraiture with functional design.
Legacy
Jean‑Urbain Guérin’s 1805 miniature portrait, titled Cover for a Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman, entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, a placement that signals sustained scholarly attention and curatorial interest in the artist’s decorative works. The piece, classified as a painting and a portrait, exemplifies early‑nineteenth‑century French portraiture and contributes to the understanding of miniature painting in museum contexts. Its inclusion in a prominent American museum illustrates how such decorative objects are reevaluated within broader narratives of European art, reinforcing Guérin’s reputation beyond his contemporaries and highlighting the work’s lasting significance in art‑historical discourse.
Overview
Jean-Urbain Guérin's "Cover for a Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman," created in 1805, exemplifies the refined miniature painting of the Neoclassical era. This small-scale portrait, intended for a functional object, showcases the artist's skill in capturing individual likenesses. It is currently housed in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, representing a significant example of early 19th-century French portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a young woman within an oval frame, depicted from the waist up with her gaze directed towards the viewer. Her brown hair is styled in a low bun, complementing a white dress with puffy sleeves and a pearl necklace. Her serene expression, marked by a subtle smile and downcast eyes, conveys a sense of quiet contemplation, inviting a moment of peaceful reflection from the observer.
Technique & Style
Guérin, a prominent French miniaturist alongside contemporaries like Jean-Baptiste Isabey, was celebrated for his sophisticated portraiture. This work demonstrates his adherence to the Neoclassical aesthetic, characterized by clarity and precise rendering. The delicate brushwork and attention to detail, even on a small scale, underscore the refined techniques that established his reputation in the early 19th century.
Context
As a leading miniaturist of his period, Jean-Urbain Guérin produced portraits for a diverse clientele, including figures such as Marie-Antoinette and Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, as well as members of the burgeoning Third Estate. Miniatures like this one served not only as personal keepsakes but also as decorative elements for luxury items, reflecting the social customs and artistic trends of the time.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jean-Urbain Guérin (French pronunciation:; 1760 – 29 October 1836) was a French draughtsman and miniaturist.
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