Artwork
Portrait of Lieutenant General Daniel Burr
Portrait of Lieutenant General Daniel Burr is a watercolor painting by John I Smart. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created in 1799 by John Smart, the piece functions as a formal representation of the general's status and identity within the British military hierarchy.
The work depicts Lieutenant General Daniel Burr, a senior British military officer, as the sole subject of this portrait miniature. Created in 1799 by John Smart, the piece functions as a formal representation of the general's status and identity within the British military hierarchy. As a miniature painted on ivory, the format itself was historically associated with personal intimacy and portability, often serving as a keepsake for family or close associates.
The image captures Burr in his capacity as a Lieutenant General, emphasizing his rank and authority through the conventions of late 18th-century British portraiture.
Technique & Style
The work is a portrait miniature executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a technique typical of late‑18th‑century British miniaturists. The miniature measures 8.4 cm by 6.8 cm and was created in England in 1799, depicting Lieutenant General Daniel Burr. Its medium combines delicate watercolor washes with the smooth surface of ivory, producing fine detail and a luminous finish characteristic of the genre.
The composition follows conventional portrait conventions of the period, emphasizing the sitter’s rank through subtle facial rendering and restrained attire.
History & Provenance
The portrait miniature of Lieutenant General Daniel Burr was created by the British artist John Smart in 1799, executed in watercolor on ivory and produced in England. The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art collection under the accession number 1942.1156, where it is held today as part of the museum's holdings of portrait miniatures.
The sources do not record details of the original commission, the sitter's relationship to Smart, or the chain of private ownership that preceded the museum's acquisition. No prior owners, dealers, or intermediate collections are documented in the available material, and the circumstances by which the miniature came to the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1942 are not specified.
The portrait miniature of Lieutenant General Daniel Burr, painted by John Smart in 1799, is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work, executed in watercolor on ivory, is cataloged under the accession number 1942.1156. While the piece depicts the British military figure and was created in England, the available records do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history for this object.
Overview
John Smart's Portrait of Lieutenant General Daniel Burr, created in 1800, is a finely detailed miniature painting on ivory. This small oval work captures the likeness of the military figure Daniel Burr, rendered with precision and a focus on individual character. Smart, an English artist, was prominent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries for his skill in this specialized genre. The portrait is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.
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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.
