Who painted Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith)?

Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith) was painted by Louisa Catherine Strobel in ca. 1830.

Where can I see Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith)?

Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith)?

Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith) is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith)

Louisa Catherine Strobel , 1830

Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Louisa Catherine Strobel. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Mrs.

About this work

Technique & Style

The portrait is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a medium typical of early nineteenth‑century American miniatures.

The portrait is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a medium typical of early nineteenth‑century American miniatures. The fine, controlled brushwork renders the sitter’s bonnet, bow, lace, ribbon, and shawl with meticulous attention to textile detail, reflecting a delicate and refined style. Dimensions are approximately 7 inches in height and 4.8 inches in width, consistent with miniature portrait formats of the period.

History & Provenance

Louisa Catherine Strobel painted Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith) in 1830 as a watercolor on ivory portrait. The work depicts the sitter wearing a bonnet, bow, lace, ribbon, and shawl. According to the sources, the painting is presently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is classified within its American Wing collection. No further details regarding earlier ownership, commission, or provenance are provided in the available sources.

The watercolor portrait Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch (Jane Griffith) by Louisa Catherine Strobel, executed in 1830, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Specifically, the work resides within the museum's American Wing. While the provided sources confirm the institution and wing, they do not list a specific accession or inventory number for the piece.

Regarding exhibition history, the available documentation does not record any past or future exhibitions for this specific artwork. The portrait, measuring approximately 7 by 4.8 inches, depicts the sitter wearing a bonnet, lace, and a shawl, consistent with the genre of portraiture from the early 19th century.

Overview

This miniature portrait depicts Mrs. Jacob Gerard Koch, identified as Jane Griffith, rendered in watercolor on ivory. The delicate scale, measuring only a few inches, contributes to its intimate character, evoking the personal nature of a cherished keepsake. The subject is shown in a dark dress with a striking red ribbon, a lace shawl, and a fan, her gaze direct and composed.

Subject & Meaning

Before the advent of photography, miniature portraits served as a primary means for individuals to preserve and carry the likenesses of family members or loved ones. This small-scale depiction of Jane Griffith, wife of Jacob Gerard Koch, would have been a deeply personal object, intended for private contemplation rather than public display, reflecting a common practice of the era.

Context

Miniature portraiture flourished as an art form in the centuries preceding photography, offering a portable and personal way to commemorate individuals. Artists like Strobel specialized in this intricate medium, creating works that were often worn as jewelry or kept in small cases. These objects functioned as tangible links to absent loved ones, embodying sentiment and memory in a compact format.

Artist & collection

Artist

Louisa Catherine Strobel

Louisa C. Martin, née Strobel (1806–1883) was an American painter of portrait miniatures. She was the daughter of a US diplomat and was born in Liverpool while her father Daniel Strobel was assigned there. On the…

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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