Artwork
Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer III (Cornelia Paterson)
Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer III (Cornelia Paterson) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Robert Fulton. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Cornelia Paterson, the wife of Stephen Van Rensselaer III.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject's depiction emphasizes her personal presence, establishing the work's meaning through the direct portrayal of the sitter.
The work is a portrait depicting Cornelia Paterson Van Rensselaer, the wife of Stephen Van Rensselaer III. Executed in 1810 by Robert Fulton, the piece identifies the sitter as the primary subject without incorporating additional narrative iconography or complex symbolic elements within the provided descriptions. As a genre portrait created on a small scale, the artwork functions primarily as a representation of the individual, capturing her likeness during the early nineteenth century.
The composition focuses exclusively on the woman herself, serving as a formal visual record of her identity and status rather than conveying a broader allegorical message. The subject's depiction emphasizes her personal presence, establishing the work's meaning through the direct portrayal of the sitter.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1810, this portrait utilizes watercolor applied to an ivory support, a medium characteristic of miniature painting traditions. The work measures approximately 7.9 by 6.4 units, indicating a small-scale format intended for intimate viewing. As a portrait genre piece, the composition focuses exclusively on the depiction of Cornelia Paterson Van Rensselaer.
The application of pigment on the smooth, non-absorbent surface of ivory would have required precise handling to achieve the desired luminosity and detail typical of early nineteenth-century American miniatures. The piece is classified within the American Wing, reflecting its stylistic alignment with domestic portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
The work titled Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer III (Cornelia Paterson) is a watercolor on ivory portrait painted by Robert Fulton in 1810. It portrays Cornelia Paterson Van Rensselaer, a member of the prominent Van Rensselaer family, and was created as a commissioned likeness of the sitter. After its execution, the painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view within The American Wing's portrait genre.
The work’s dating is documented as 1810, and its physical dimensions measure approximately 7.9 by 6.4 units, confirming its status as an early‑19th‑century American portrait.
The miniature is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is catalogued as a work on ivory by Robert Fulton dated 1810. Its accession record identifies the sitter as Cornelia Paterson, Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer III. The museum has exhibited the portrait in gallery installations dedicated to early American portrait miniatures, most recently within The American Wing’s holdings of Federal-era works.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Cornelia Paterson, the wife of Stephen Van Rensselaer III. Rendered in watercolor on a small ivory support, the artwork was designed to be easily transportable, serving a function similar to contemporary photographs. Its intimate scale allowed for personal ownership and display, reflecting a common practice for preserving likenesses in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Context
Robert Fulton, the creator of this portrait, is primarily recognized for his pioneering work as an inventor, particularly for developing the steamboat. While painting was not his most celebrated profession, this piece showcases his skill as a miniaturist. His artistic endeavors provide an interesting counterpoint to his more famous contributions in engineering and technology.
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.
