Artwork
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Miss Leland. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This small watercolor on ivory depicts a young boy seated in a wooden chair.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition notably incorporates elements of a toy, specifically a miniature horse, alongside the human figure, blending portraiture with genre details.
Executed in 1840 by Miss Leland, this portrait utilizes watercolor applied directly onto an ivory support, a medium characteristic of miniature painting traditions. The work measures approximately 10.8 by 10.2 centimeters, indicating a small-scale format intended for intimate viewing. Stylistically, the piece functions as a formal portrait depicting a young boy, rendered with attention to the subject's identity as a white male.
The composition notably incorporates elements of a toy, specifically a miniature horse, alongside the human figure, blending portraiture with genre details. The handling of the watercolor on the smooth ivory surface suggests a delicate approach required by the non-absorbent nature of the material, typical of early nineteenth-century American miniature practices housed within institutional collections like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Boy, a watercolor on ivory miniature, was created in 1840 by the artist Miss Leland. This work, classified within the genre of portraiture, depicts a young boy accompanied by a miniature horse and a toy. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically within the Kennedy Galleries of the American Wing.
While the specific commissioning patron and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the work's inception is firmly dated to 1840. The physical dimensions of the ivory support measure 10.8 by 10.2 centimeters, consistent with the scale of mid-19th-century miniature portraiture.
The watercolor on ivory titled Portrait of a Boy, created by Miss Leland in 1840, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is specifically located within the museum's American Wing and has been associated with the Kennedy Galleries. While the provided records confirm its presence in the Met's holdings and its 19th-century origin, the available sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for this piece.
Furthermore, the documentation does not list any specific past or future exhibition history for the work, limiting the historical record to its current institutional custody and physical classification as a portrait miniature.
Overview
This small watercolor on ivory depicts a young boy seated in a wooden chair. Dressed in a dark suit, he holds a toy horse, while his other hand rests on a red-draped table. The artist uses a plain background to emphasize the child's face, creating an intimate portrayal. Its diminutive size suggests it was intended as a personal memento or a cherished gift.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, a young boy, is formally presented yet holds a child's toy, bridging his innocence with a more composed demeanor. His toy horse and the red-draped table add subtle elements of personal detail within the otherwise simple setting. As a miniature, the portrait likely served as a cherished personal item, perhaps a remembrance of the child for a family member.
Context
This work by Miss Leland offers insight into the practice of women artists in the 19th century, many of whom created such intimate portraits. While numerous women artists were active during this period, their contributions are often less recognized in broader art historical narratives today. Miniatures like this were a significant part of American art in the 1800s, reflecting a widespread demand for personal portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Miss Leland appears in the census as paintress, a small edge of sass in an era that called women artists amateurs.
