Artwork
Mrs. Nicholas Fish (Elizabeth Stuyvesant)
Mrs. Nicholas Fish (Elizabeth Stuyvesant) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist John Carlin. It dates from 1848 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This portrait depicts Mrs.
About this work
Technique & Style
Nicholas Fish is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a traditional medium for miniature portraiture.
John Carlin's 1848 portrait of Mrs. Nicholas Fish is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a traditional medium for miniature portraiture. The work is small in scale, measuring 9.8 cm in height and 8 cm in width. As a portrait genre piece, the composition formally centers on the depiction of Elizabeth Stuyvesant.
The use of watercolor on ivory typically allows for a smooth, luminous finish, with the translucent pigments interacting with the reflective ivory surface to render the sitter's flesh tones and fine details with delicate handling.
History & Provenance
John Carlin executed the watercolor portrait of Elizabeth Stuyvesant, known as Mrs. Nicholas Fish, in 1848. The work was created on an ivory support, measuring approximately 9.8 by 8 units. While the specific circumstances regarding the original commission or the identity of the patron who ordered the piece are not detailed in the available records, the date of inception is firmly established as 1848.
Following its creation, the artwork entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains housed within the institution's American Wing. The piece serves as a formal depiction of Stuyvesant, documenting her likeness through the medium of miniature painting during the mid-nineteenth century.
The watercolor on ivory portrait of Elizabeth Stuyvesant by John Carlin is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing. No specific inventory or accession number is recorded in the available documentation. The work, dated 1848, measures approximately 9.8 by 8 units. No exhibition history is documented in the provided sources.
Overview
This portrait depicts Mrs. Nicholas Fish, also known as Elizabeth Stuyvesant, rendered in watercolor on ivory. The artwork, housed within The American Wing, captures a seated woman in formal attire. Her composed demeanor and the delicate execution of the medium characterize this miniature, offering insight into portraiture practices of its era.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Elizabeth Stuyvesant, identified as Mrs. Nicholas Fish, seated with a serious and composed expression. She is depicted in an elaborate dress, suggesting her social standing. The formal pose and attire were typical conventions for conveying the dignity and status of the sitter in portrait miniatures of this period, reflecting societal expectations for such representations.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Carlin (15 May or 15 June 1813 in Philadelphia – 23 April 1891 in New York City) was an American illustrator, painter and poet. He was the first published deaf poet in the USA.
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