Artwork
A Woman Playing a Harp
A Woman Playing a Harp is an unspecified painting by Joseph-Marie Bouton. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature painting by Joseph Marie Bouton depicts a woman engaged with a harp.
About this work
Painted on a circular ivory disk barely three and a half inches across, this miniature shows a woman in costume of about 1790 bent over a harp. Joseph Marie Bouton worked it with the fine brushwork that later made him court painter to Queen Maria-Louisa of Spain. It came to the Met in 1925, a gift from Mrs. Louis V. Bell.
Overview
Its delicate detail and compact size were characteristic of the European miniature tradition, intended for close, private appreciation.
This miniature painting by Joseph Marie Bouton depicts a woman engaged with a harp. Executed on a small, circular ivory disk, the work exemplifies the artist's expertise in intimate portraiture. The sitter's attire suggests a date around 1790, possibly placing its creation during Bouton's early career in Paris, before his appointment as a court painter in Spain.
Its delicate detail and compact size were characteristic of the European miniature tradition, intended for close, private appreciation.
Technique & Style
Bouton rendered "A Woman Playing a Harp" on a circular ivory support, measuring just 90 millimeters in diameter. This choice of material and format was typical of the miniature tradition, which prioritized intricate detail and a smooth, luminous surface. The artist's precise brushwork, evident in this piece, was a hallmark of his skill, later earning him recognition as court painter to Queen Maria-Louisa of Spain. Such works were often cherished privately rather than displayed publicly.
History & Provenance
"A Woman Playing a Harp" entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1925. The acquisition was made possible through a generous gift from Mrs. Louis V. Bell, who donated the artwork in memory of her late husband. The miniature is cataloged within the museum's European Paintings department and bears the object number 25.106.17, documenting its place in the institution's extensive holdings.
Context
Joseph Marie Bouton's artistic journey began under his miniaturist father in Cádiz, followed by studies with Cammas and at the Parisian Academy. He gained early recognition, exhibiting in Toulouse and Paris, and later in London. His career culminated in 1805 with his appointment as court painter to Queen Maria-Louisa in Spain.
This miniature, with its 1790s costume, likely predates his Spanish period, showcasing his talent during his formative years in Paris.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Joseph-Marie Bouton was born in 1768 in Cádiz, where his father Guillaume-Gabriel Bouton worked as a portrait miniaturist.
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