Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting by the American Impressionist artist Nathaniel Rogers. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Created by Nathaniel Rogers in 1815, the piece is a formal portrait focusing entirely on the depiction of a female figure.
The work portrays an unidentified woman as the sole main subject of the composition. Created by Nathaniel Rogers in 1815, the piece is a formal portrait focusing entirely on the depiction of a female figure. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the artwork captures the likeness of the sitter without incorporating additional narrative elements, allegorical figures, or specific symbolic attributes.
The subject is presented simply as a woman, consistent with the conventions of early 19th-century miniature portraiture, in which the primary intent was the faithful representation of the individual's appearance rather than the communication of complex iconographic meaning.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1815, the miniature is painted in watercolor on ivory, the standard support for early nineteenth-century American portrait miniatures. The translucency of the ivory enhances the luminous flesh tones, and the composition is tightly framed on the figure, exemplifying the refined, linear approach favored in Federal-period miniatures. The work measures 7.6 cm in height by 6 cm in width.
History & Provenance
Created in 1815, this watercolor-on-ivory portrait was painted by the American miniaturist Nathaniel Rogers. It depicts a woman and measures 7.6 cm in height by 6 cm in width. The work is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it was accessioned in 2006 under the number 2006.235.171 and is classified within the American Wing.
The available documentation does not record the original patron, the early chain of ownership, or any exhibition history beyond its place in the museum's permanent collection.
Legacy
Portrait of a Lady exemplifies early American miniature portraiture through its delicate watercolor technique on ivory and its depiction of a solitary woman. Its inclusion in The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art preserves it as a documented example of Nathaniel Rogers's work and of Federal-period portrait practice in the United States.
Overview
Nathaniel Rogers created this watercolor, titled Portrait of a Lady, in 1815. This miniature depicts an unidentified woman, rendered with delicate brushwork on an ivory support. Such small-scale portraits were popular during the early American period, serving as intimate mementos.
The artwork exemplifies the refined technique of watercolor on ivory, a medium chosen for its ability to impart a distinctive luminosity to the subject's complexion.
Context
Created in early America, Portrait of a Lady reflects the era's demand for personal keepsakes. Miniatures like this were highly valued by families, often exchanged as tokens of affection or remembrance. Their small size made them portable and discreet, allowing them to be carried or displayed in private settings.
Rogers was a practitioner of this popular art form, which served both as a record of individual appearance and an expression of familial connection.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nathaniel Rogers (1787-1844) was an American miniature painter, born at Bridgehampton on Long Island, New York.
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