Artwork
Memorial to Peter Philip Walter
Memorial to Peter Philip Walter is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Samuel Folwell. It dates from 1802 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of the woman alongside the boy suggests a familial relationship, possibly that of a mother and son, serving as a visual record of their bond.
The work depicts a woman and a boy, identified as the memorial subject Peter Philip Walter. Created by Samuel Folwell in 1802, the piece functions as a portrait that likely commemorates the deceased child. The inclusion of the woman alongside the boy suggests a familial relationship, possibly that of a mother and son, serving as a visual record of their bond.
The medium, watercolor on ivory set within a rose gold locket with a hair reserve on the verso, reinforces the object's role as a personal memento and a vessel for mourning.
Technique & Style
Samuel Folwell executed the Memorial to Peter Philip Walter in 1802 using watercolor applied to ivory. The work is mounted within a rose gold locket and includes a reserve of hair on the verso. Measuring 5.3 cm in height and 4.4 cm in width, the piece functions as a miniature portrait.
The composition depicts a woman and a boy, serving as a memorial object that combines painting with jewelry-making techniques.
History & Provenance
Samuel Folwell created the Memorial to Peter Philip Walter in 1802. The work is executed as a watercolor on ivory, housed within a rose gold locket that features a hair reserve on the verso. The piece depicts a woman and a boy, serving as a memorial portrait. It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing.
The Memorial to Peter Philip Walter is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing. The work, created by Samuel Folwell in 1802, is a watercolor on ivory set in a rose gold locket with a hair reserve on the verso. While the specific inventory or accession number is not provided in the available records, the piece measures 5.3 cm in height and 4.4 cm in width. The sources do not contain information regarding a specific exhibition history for this artwork.
Overview
Samuel Folwell created Memorial to Peter Philip Walter in 1802, a watercolor on ivory contained within a rose gold locket. This miniature portrait, designed to be held or worn, served as a personal memento. The reverse of the locket features a compartment for a lock of hair, a common practice in commemorative art of the period, underscoring its intimate and sorrowful purpose.
Context
Samuel Folwell was an American artist active during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, specializing in commemorative pieces. His practice frequently involved incorporating personal elements, such as locks of hair, into his mourning art. Beyond his artistic output, Folwell contributed to art education, notably co-founding an art school for girls in Philadelphia alongside his wife, Ann Elizabeth Gebler Folwell.
Legacy
Folwell's contributions to American art are recognized through the inclusion of his works in prominent collections. Institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of American Folk Art preserve examples of his miniatures and mourning pieces, reflecting his place within the artistic landscape of his era and the enduring appeal of these personal, commemorative objects.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Folwell (1764–1813) was an American artist who worked in the 18th and 19th century.
