Artwork
Mr. Boardman
Mr. Boardman is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Margaret Bogardus. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait, titled Mr.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition focuses on the bust of the man, with specific attention given to his attire, notably the cravat he wears.
Executed in 1837, this watercolor on ivory functions as a portrait miniature depicting a male subject identified as Mr. Boardman. The composition focuses on the bust of the man, with specific attention given to his attire, notably the cravat he wears. As a work within the portrait genre, the piece serves primarily as a representation of the individual's likeness rather than conveying complex allegorical symbolism or broader narrative meanings through additional iconographic elements.
The depiction is characterized by its intimate scale and the direct presentation of the sitter, consistent with the conventions of early nineteenth-century miniature portraiture intended for personal commemoration.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor on a thin ivory support, the work measures roughly 7.9 cm in height by 9.5 cm in width and belongs to the portrait genre within the American Wing's collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bogardus painted the sitter in a modest, three-quarter view, rendered with fine brushstrokes that emphasize the delicate rendering of facial features and the soft folds of a cravat. The miniature's scale and subdued palette reflect the conventions of early-nineteenth-century portrait miniatures, while the crisp delineation of the cravat and the sitter's attire convey a restrained formalism typical of the period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1837, the watercolor miniature on ivory titled Mr. Boardman was executed by the artist Margaret Maclay Bogardus and depicts a male subject wearing a cravat. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, classified under The American Wing as a portrait miniature, and measures approximately 7.9 by 9.5 centimetres. A specific accession number is not recorded in the available sources, and no exhibition history or prior provenance is documented beyond its current institutional home.
Overview
This miniature portrait, titled Mr. Boardman, captures a man in formal attire, directly engaging the viewer. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the artwork is notably small, resembling the size of a business card. Such pieces were common for personal display and portability, reflecting a significant aspect of portraiture before the advent of photography. It is housed within The American Wing, representing a specific tradition in American art.
Context
Miniature portraits like Mr. Boardman functioned as highly personal objects, often carried by individuals as keepsakes, much like a modern wallet photograph. Their compact size made them ideal for portability, frequently set into lockets or small frames. These intimate artworks provided a tangible connection to the depicted person, serving as cherished mementos in an era when larger portraits were less accessible and photography had not yet become widespread.
Artist & collection
Artist
Margaret Maclay Bogardus (1804 – 1878) was an American miniature painter. Scottish by birth, the daughter of the Reverend Archibald Maclay, Margaret Maclay emigrated to the United States in 1805, marrying James…
