Artwork
Sarah Louisa Jenkins
Sarah Louisa Jenkins 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
The classification within The American Wing underscores its significance as an example of early American artistic production.
Executed in 1804, this portrait by Robert Field utilizes watercolor applied to an ivory support, a medium characteristic of miniature painting during the period. The work presents a formal depiction of a woman, adhering to the conventions of the portrait genre. Physically, the piece is small in scale, measuring approximately 8.3 by 6.7 cm, which aligns with the intimate nature of ivory miniatures intended for close viewing.
The classification within The American Wing underscores its significance as an example of early American artistic production. While specific details regarding the artist's brushwork or the object's current state of preservation are not explicitly detailed in the available records, the combination of watercolor and ivory defines its primary material identity and technical approach.
History & Provenance
The portrait by Robert Field of Sarah Louisa Jenkins is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is accessioned as 1975.1.1549 within The American Wing collection. The miniature measures 8.3 cm in height and 6.7 cm in width, painted in watercolor on ivory in 1804. The work has not been recorded in major public exhibitions since its accessioning, and its exhibition history remains undocumented in available sources.
Overview
Robert Field's Sarah Louisa Jenkins, painted in 1804, is a watercolor portrait rendered on a small ivory support. This intimate work captures a woman in a formal pose, her direct gaze engaging the viewer. Field, a London-born artist who worked across various locations including Nova Scotia and Jamaica, created this piece within the popular tradition of miniature portraits, which served as personal mementos during the early 19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Sarah Louisa Jenkins in a white dress, her dark curls framing a serene face. She looks directly forward, establishing an immediate connection with the observer. The minimalist gray background ensures that full attention remains on the sitter.
Such miniatures were often commissioned as personal keepsakes, functioning similarly to modern photographs, allowing individuals to carry or display images of loved ones.
Context
Robert Field was recognized by art historian Daphne Foskett as a prominent American miniaturist of his period, despite his British origins and travels. His work, including Sarah Louisa Jenkins, aligns with an early American folk art tradition while also incorporating the refined aesthetics of neo-classical portraiture. Miniatures like this were highly valued for their portability and personal significance, serving a vital role in visual culture before the advent of photography.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Field (1769–1819) was a painter who was born in London and died in Kingston, Jamaica.
