Artwork
Robert Stuart
Robert Stuart is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Robert Field. It dates from 1804 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Robert Field's 1804 portrait of Robert Stuart is executed in watercolor on ivory, a medium characteristic of miniature portraiture from the period.
Robert Field's 1804 portrait of Robert Stuart is executed in watercolor on ivory, a medium characteristic of miniature portraiture from the period. The work measures approximately 7.3 inches in height and 5.9 inches in width, indicating a small-scale format typical for intimate, detailed studies. As a portrait genre piece, the artist likely employed fine brushwork to render the sitter's features with precision against the smooth, luminous surface of the ivory support.
The classification within The American Wing suggests the piece is preserved as a significant example of early 19th-century American portraiture, where the translucency of watercolor over ivory was prized for its ability to mimic skin tones and create a delicate, lifelike effect.
History & Provenance
The portrait titled "Robert Stuart" was executed in 1804 by the American artist Robert Field as a watercolor on ivory work intended as a likeness of the sitter. The piece was classified within The American Wing and later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on display. Its creation is documented in contemporary records as part of Field's early portraiture, with the work's dimensions recorded as approximately 7.3 × 5.9 inches.
The painting's provenance is traced directly to its acquisition by the museum, establishing the Met as its current owner.
The 1804 watercolor on ivory portrait of Robert Stuart by Robert Field is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Classified within the museum's American Wing, the work depicts a male subject. While the piece is confirmed as part of the institution's holdings, the provided records do not specify a unique accession or inventory number, nor do they document any past or current exhibition history for this specific object.
Overview
This watercolor-on-ivory portrait, titled Robert Stuart, was created in 1804 by Robert Field. Field, a prominent miniaturist of his time, depicted the sitter in a small-scale format. The work exemplifies the American folk art tradition, offering a direct and personal portrayal. It is housed within the American Wing, reflecting its significance in early American portraiture.
Context
Robert Field, a London-born artist who established his career across Nova Scotia, Jamaica, and eventually the United States, was recognized as a leading miniaturist of his period. His training in the neoclassical portrait style, influenced by figures such as Henry Raeburn and Gilbert Stuart, informed his approach to capturing individual likenesses. This work aligns with the American folk art tradition through its directness and small, personal scale.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Field (1769–1819) was a painter who was born in London and died in Kingston, Jamaica.
