Artwork
Matilda Few
Matilda Few is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist Nathaniel Rogers. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait genre piece, the handling focuses on capturing the likeness of the female subject with precision.
Created in 1815 by Nathaniel Rogers, the portrait of Matilda Few is executed in watercolor on ivory. This medium and support combination was a standard practice for miniature portraiture of the early nineteenth century, allowing for fine, translucent detail on a smooth, luminous surface. The work measures 7.1 inches in height and 5.8 inches in width, dimensions typical for a handheld miniature intended for intimate viewing.
As a portrait genre piece, the handling focuses on capturing the likeness of the female subject with precision. The painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing, preserving the formal qualities of the American miniature tradition.
History & Provenance
The watercolor portrait Matilda Few was painted by Nathaniel Rogers in 1815, as documented in The American Wing’s records and confirmed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection entry. The work is a miniature on ivory, measuring 7.1 cm in height and 5.8 cm in width. It depicts an unidentified woman and entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings as part of its portrait genre collection.
The painting’s creation date aligns with Rogers’s active period in the early 19th century, and no commission or ownership history prior to its museum acquisition is recorded in accessible sources.
The watercolor portrait of Matilda Few, created by Nathaniel Rogers in 1815, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Classified within the American Wing, the work is executed in watercolor on ivory and measures 7.1 by 5.8 inches. While the sources confirm the artwork's current location and physical dimensions, they do not provide a specific accession or inventory number for the piece.
Furthermore, the available documentation does not record any exhibition history for this portrait, leaving its public display record unverified within the provided data.
Overview
Nathaniel Rogers created this watercolor on ivory portrait of Matilda Few in 1815. This small-scale work captures the likeness of the sitter, a woman in a dark dress, her hair softly waved and pulled back. Her direct gaze and the plain background emphasize her features, making her face prominent within the tiny composition. This piece exemplifies the popular genre of miniature portraiture during the early 19th century in America.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Matilda Few directly facing the viewer, her expression composed. She wears a dark dress, and her hair is styled in soft waves, pulled away from her face. The simplicity of the background ensures that the viewer's attention remains focused on her features.
Such miniature portraits were often cherished possessions, allowing individuals to keep an image of a significant person close at hand.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nathaniel Rogers (1787-1844) was an American miniature painter, born at Bridgehampton on Long Island, New York.
