Artwork
Mrs. Manigault Heyward (Susan Hayne Simmons)
Mrs. Manigault Heyward (Susan Hayne Simmons) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Robert Fulton. It dates from 1813 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait, titled Mrs.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition is tightly framed, with the sitter’s head and shoulders presented frontally and slightly turned, a pose that emphasizes clarity and refinement.
The miniature is executed in watercolor on a thin ivory support, a standard format for early nineteenth-century American portrait miniatures. The artist rendered fine facial features and costume details with delicate, stippled brushwork, characteristic of the translucent layering typical of watercolor on ivory. The ivory’s natural cream tone serves as the ground, allowing luminous flesh tones and subtle modeling to emerge through thin glazes.
The composition is tightly framed, with the sitter’s head and shoulders presented frontally and slightly turned, a pose that emphasizes clarity and refinement. The handling is precise, with careful attention to the play of light on the face and the sheen of the silk dress, reflecting contemporary neoclassical ideals of elegance and restraint.
History & Provenance
Created in 1813, the miniature portrait of Susan Hayne Simmons was executed by the artist Robert Fulton using watercolor on ivory. The work depicts Susan Hayne Simmons, who is identified as Mrs. Manigault Heyward in the title. This piece, measuring 9.3 by 7.1 centimeters, is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing.
The creation date is established as 1813, and the medium consists of watercolor paint applied to an ivory support. The artwork serves as a formal portrait of the sitter, capturing her likeness during the early nineteenth century.
The portrait is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is accessioned as 1975.1.107. It was painted in 1813 by Robert Fulton using watercolor on ivory. The work entered the museum’s collection in 1975 as a gift of Miss Georgiana Schuyler.
It has been exhibited in The American Wing galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, though specific loan histories are not detailed in the cited sources.
Overview
This miniature portrait, titled Mrs. Manigault Heyward (Susan Hayne Simmons), is rendered in watercolor on ivory. It depicts a woman in a dark dress, her face and hands softly illuminated against a subdued background. The artwork's small scale suggests it was intended for private viewing, perhaps held in the hand like a personal keepsake. Its delicate execution contributes to an overall sense of quiet intimacy.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Susan Hayne Simmons, identified as Mrs. Manigault Heyward, seated against a dark backdrop. Her features are subtly highlighted, with pale skin and hands framed by loose brown curls. A small gold brooch fastens her high-collared black dress.
The composition conveys a sense of quiet contemplation, reflecting the personal and private nature often associated with miniature portraits, which were frequently exchanged as tokens of affection or remembrance.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Fulton (1765 to 1815), the American engineer remembered for developing the first commercially successful steamboat, began his career as a painter.
