Artwork
Mrs. Charlotte Lennox
Mrs. Charlotte Lennox is a graphite painting by John I Smart. It dates from 1789 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. John Smart’s 1789 portrait of Mrs.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a work within the miniature portrait genre, the piece depicts Charlotte Lennox through the combined handling of dry and wet media on paper-based material.
Created in 1789 by John Smart, this miniature portrait utilizes pencil and watercolor paint applied to a card stock support. The work measures approximately 62 mm in height and 51 mm in width (about 6.2 × 5.1 cm), typical of the intimate scale of Smart's miniatures. As a work within the miniature portrait genre, the piece depicts Charlotte Lennox through the combined handling of dry and wet media on paper-based material.
History & Provenance
The miniature portrait of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox was created by John Smart in 1789, executed in pencil and watercolor on card stock and measuring approximately 62 mm in height by 51 mm in width. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains. No specific accession number, prior ownership details, or documented exhibition history are provided in the available records.
Overview
John Smart’s 1789 portrait of Mrs. Charlotte Lennox is a finely rendered miniature executed in pencil. The work presents a three‑quarter view of the sitter, whose hair is gathered in an updo and whose attire features a high neckline with decorative trim. The composition conveys a restrained elegance characteristic of late‑18th‑century British portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, Charlotte Lennox, was linked to the literary circles of her era, suggesting a cultural prominence beyond mere social standing. Her poised expression and modest dress reflect the genteel ideals of femininity and intellect valued among the educated elite of the period.
Context
Smart worked alongside contemporaries such as Richard Cosway and George Engleheart, who also specialized in miniature portraiture for Britain’s upper classes. The work exemplifies the period’s demand for portable, intimate likenesses that could be exchanged among social networks and displayed in private settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Smart (1 May 1741 – 1 May 1811) was an English painter who specialised in portrait miniatures. He was a contemporary of Richard Cosway, George Engleheart, William Wood and Richard Crosse.
