Artwork
Mrs. Edward Loyd (C. Louisa Foster)
Mrs. Edward Loyd (C. Louisa Foster) is a watercolor painting by the British Romanticist artist Mrs. Dove. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait, titled Mrs.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.57
- Credit line
- Gift of Gloria Manney, 2006
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These iconographic elements function symbolically to convey the sitter's modesty and familial propriety within her social sphere.
The painting portrays Caroline Louisa Foster, a young woman of the early 19th-century American elite, surrounded by attributes that signal domestic virtue and innocence: a cat and kitten suggest domestic comfort, while lace and delicate dress underscore refinement. These iconographic elements function symbolically to convey the sitter's modesty and familial propriety within her social sphere. Executed in 1835 as a watercolor on ivory, the work belongs to the miniature portrait genre and is housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, reflecting both its artistic technique and its classification as a historical portrait. The depiction encapsulates contemporary ideals of femininity and class status.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1835, this portrait is a miniature rendered in watercolor on ivory, a refined technique typical of small-scale portraiture of the period. The ivory support, measuring 8.5 by 6.8 centimeters, provided a smooth, luminous ground that enhanced the delicate handling of the watercolor medium. The composition centers on the sitter accompanied by a cat and kitten, with attention given to the rendering of lace detailing in her attire.
The work is classified as a portrait miniature and is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing collection. The intimate scale and choice of materials reflect the conventions of nineteenth-century miniature painting, in which translucent watercolor washes were applied to ivory to achieve subtle tonal gradations and a soft, lifelike finish.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Caroline Louisa Foster, titled Mrs. Edward Loyd, was created in 1835 by the artist Mrs. Dove. Executed as a miniature on ivory using watercolor, the work measures 8.5 cm in height and 6.8 cm in width. The piece depicts Foster alongside a kitten and lace details.
The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within The American Wing. The provenance records indicate a connection to E. Grosvenor Paine, who is associated with the work's acquisition or prior ownership before its entry into the museum's holdings.
Overview
This miniature portrait, titled Mrs. Edward Loyd (C. Louisa Foster), is rendered in watercolor on ivory. It depicts a young girl seated on a red sofa, gently holding a white cat. Created by Mrs. Dove, one of the few professional female portraitists of her era, this small-scale artwork exemplifies a popular form of personal adornment and pre-photographic portraiture from 1830s America.
Context
In the 1830s, before the advent of photography, painted portraits served as crucial records of individual appearance and status. Mrs. Dove distinguished herself as one of the rare women who successfully established a professional career as a portrait artist in America during this period. Her skill in miniature painting allowed her to cater to a clientele seeking intimate and portable likenesses.
Artist & collection
Artist
Mrs. Dove was a portrait miniaturist active in the first half of the nineteenth century. Working in watercolour on ivory, the standard technique for British portrait miniatures of the period, she is recorded as the…
