Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Moses B. Russell. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject is presented without accompanying objects, settings, or allegorical figures that would suggest meanings beyond her identity as an individual.
The work depicts a single female subject, identified simply as a woman in the context of the portrait genre. Created by Moses B. Russell in 1834, the piece functions as a standard commemorative likeness rather than a narrative scene containing complex iconography or specific symbolic attributes. The subject is presented without accompanying objects, settings, or allegorical figures that would suggest meanings beyond her identity as an individual.
As a portrait of a woman, the artwork's primary representation is the visual record of the sitter herself, focusing on her physical presence rather than conveying broader moral, political, or mythological messages through symbolic imagery.
Technique & Style
Portrait of a Lady is executed in watercolor on ivory, a miniature portrait technique that paired translucent pigment washes with the smooth, luminous surface of an ivory support. The compact format, measuring approximately 6.7 by 5.3 centimeters, is characteristic of the small-scale portrait miniatures produced for personal keepsakes in the early nineteenth century. The ivory ground lent a soft, enamel-like finish to the watercolor, allowing delicate handling of skin tones and refined detail in the sitter's features.
The work is classified within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, reflecting its placement among American portrait traditions of the period.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Lady was created by Moses B. Russell in 1834, executed in watercolor on ivory. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under accession number 68.222.33 and classified within The American Wing. The painting depicts a woman in a portrait format, measuring 6.7 by 5.3 in its dimensions.
No additional information regarding commission, prior ownership, or intermediate provenance between the 1834 creation and the museum's acquisition is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This "Portrait of a Lady," created in 1834 by Moses B. Russell, is a watercolor on ivory. The artwork presents an unidentified woman, rendered with delicate detail, characteristic of the miniature portraiture popular during the period. Housed within the American Wing, it exemplifies the intimate scale and refined execution often found in such works.
Context
Miniature portraits like this one were a common and cherished form of personal art during the 19th century. Their small scale made them portable and suitable for private display, often exchanged as tokens of affection or remembrance. This example by Russell reflects the broader tradition of detailed portraiture that captured individual likenesses with precision and intimacy.
Artist & collection
