Who painted Portrait of a Young Woman?

Portrait of a Young Woman was painted by Peter Adolf Hall in 1790-01-01.

Where can I see Portrait of a Young Woman?

Portrait of a Young Woman is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Young Woman?

Portrait of a Young Woman is associated with Rococo painting.

Artwork

Portrait of a Young Woman

Peter Adolf Hall

Portrait of a Young Woman is an ivory painting by the Rococo painting artist Peter Adolf Hall. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

Stylistic restraint and careful attention to costume detail align the piece with Hall’s mature portrait practice.

The work is a miniature painted on ivory, measuring 70 × 55 mm, consistent with the intimate scale and luminous support favored by eighteenth-century portrait miniaturists. The handling combines fine, layered brushwork with delicate stippling to model facial features and costume details, exploiting ivory’s translucency to achieve subtle luminosity. The sitter’s softly modeled face and restrained palette of pearly flesh tones and muted greens and blues reflect the refined neoclassical sensibility of the 1790s. Stylistic restraint and careful attention to costume detail align the piece with Hall’s mature portrait practice.

History & Provenance

The Portrait of a Young Woman was created in 1790 by the artist Peter Adolf Hall. Executed as a miniature painting on ivory, the work measures 70 by 55 units and depicts a female subject. While the specific commission details and the original ownership chain prior to the current institution are not detailed in the available records, the piece is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The creation date is firmly established as 1790, marking the inception of this ivory portrait. The work remains attributed to Hall, who is recognized as the sole creator of this specific portrait miniature.

Overview

Created in 1796 by Swedish artist Peter Adolf Hall, this painting on ivory depicts a young woman. Hall, primarily known for his miniature portraits, executed this piece in the Rococo style, which emphasizes delicate detail and elegant presentation. The work is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a characteristic example of 18th-century portraiture.

Subject & Meaning

The small, oval-shaped portrait presents a young woman from the waist up, her form subtly angled while her gaze meets the viewer directly. She is adorned with a necklace and belt, complementing her dark dress and curly hair. A subdued background serves to accentuate her features, contributing to the overall impression of understated elegance and directness in her portrayal.

Artist & collection

Artist

Peter Adolf Hall

Peter Adolf Hall, also known as PA Hall or Peter Adolphe Hall, (23 February 1739 in Borås – 15 May 1793 in Liège), was a Swedish-French artist who mainly devoted himself to miniature painting.