Artwork
Charlotte Allard
Charlotte Allard is a watercolor painting by the Biedermeier artist Leopold Paul Unger. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Unger painted it on ivory, which lets light shine through the layers, giving her cheeks a warm, living look.
A woman in a dark dress looks straight at you, her face lit softly. Tiny brushstrokes on ivory make her skin glow.
This is a watercolor miniature, meant to be held in your hand like a photo. Unger painted it on ivory, which lets light shine through the layers, giving her cheeks a warm, living look. Few artists could make watercolor feel this alive in 1840.
If you like this quiet kind of portrait, look up the technique of glazing.
Subject & Meaning
The watercolor portrait titled Charlotte Allard, painted by Leopold Paul Unger in 1840, portrays a woman rendered in a conventional 19th-century portrait style. Executed on ivory and measuring roughly 7 by 5.8 centimetres, the work is classified within The American Wing's portrait genre. As a portrait, it functions to record the sitter's appearance and possibly convey social standing, a common purpose of contemporary likenesses.
The depiction aligns with the era's emphasis on formalized representation of femininity, though specific iconographic symbols are not documented. The piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1840, this portrait utilizes watercolor applied to an ivory support, a medium characteristic of miniature painting traditions. The work measures approximately 7.1 by 5.8 centimetres, a small-scale format intended for close viewing. As a piece classified within the American Wing genre of portraiture, the composition focuses on the depiction of a female subject.
The choice of ivory as a ground lends a luminous quality to the watercolor layers, while the compact dimensions necessitate a refined handling of detail typical of early nineteenth-century miniature portraiture.
Overview
Leopold Paul Unger created this watercolor portrait of Charlotte Allard in 1840. Rendered on ivory, the miniature captures its subject with a direct gaze and soft illumination. This intimate work, part of The American Wing collection, exemplifies the delicate artistry of early 19th-century portraiture, designed for personal contemplation rather than public display. The chosen medium contributes significantly to its lifelike quality.
Artist & collection
