Artwork
John Maunsell
John Maunsell is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist John Ramage. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a medium noted for its translucent washes and delicate surface texture.
The work is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a medium noted for its translucent washes and delicate surface texture. Its dimensions measure approximately 4.1 × 3.2 units, placing the composition within a modest scale typical of portrait miniatures. The piece belongs to the portrait genre and portrays John Maunsell, identified as a general, rendered in a formal style that emphasizes crisp delineation and restrained coloration.
As part of the collection housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the artwork is presented as a painted portrait within the museum’s established classification system.
History & Provenance
John Ramage created this portrait of John Maunsell in 1785. Executed as a watercolor on ivory, the artwork was inceptioned in 1785. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing.
The watercolor on ivory portrait of John Maunsell by John Ramage, dated 1785, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing. According to Wikidata, the work is part of the museum's holdings and is inventoried there, with recorded dimensions of 4.1 in height and 3.2 in width. No specific accession number is identified in the available sources.
The available records do not document any exhibition history for the portrait beyond its presence in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's permanent collection.
Overview
This miniature portrait, titled John Maunsell, depicts a man in military attire. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the artwork is notably small, designed to be held in the hand. The subject gazes directly forward, his expression composed.
This piece is part of The American Wing collection, representing a common form of portraiture among affluent individuals during its period of creation.
Subject & Meaning
John Maunsell is portrayed wearing a red military coat, his features rendered with clarity and a calm demeanor. Such miniature portraits served as highly personal and portable mementos. Wealthy patrons commissioned these works to capture their likeness or that of loved ones, valuing their intimate scale and ease of transport. The direct gaze of the sitter suggests a personal connection intended for the viewer.
Context
John Ramage was a practitioner of miniature painting, a popular art form among the affluent classes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He specialized in creating these small, detailed portraits on ivory, catering to clients who desired easily transportable images of themselves or family members. These works often functioned as tokens of affection or status symbols, reflecting the sitter's position and the artist's skill in a challenging medium.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Ramage (1748 – 24 October 1802) was an Irish American artist, goldsmith, patroller, and second lieutenant.
