Artwork
Mrs. David Howe (Sarah Whitney)
Mrs. David Howe (Sarah Whitney) is a watercolor painting by the Romanticist artist Samuel Wallin. It dates from 1839 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Mrs.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
These elements of dress serve as iconographic markers of her social standing and adherence to early nineteenth-century fashion norms.
Created in 1839, this watercolor on ivory functions as a formal portrait of Sarah Whitney, identified as Mrs. David Howe. The composition presents the subject in a strict profile view, a conventional pose for miniature portraiture of the era that emphasizes the sitter's silhouette and demeanor rather than direct engagement with the viewer. Whitney is depicted wearing period-specific attire, including a cap, a fichu draped around her neck and shoulders, and a ribbon.
These elements of dress serve as iconographic markers of her social standing and adherence to early nineteenth-century fashion norms. As a genre work housed in The American Wing, the piece represents a documented visual record of an individual woman from this specific historical period, utilizing standard artistic conventions to convey identity through clothing and posture.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor on ivory, the small portrait measures roughly 7.2 × 5.8 cm and portrays a woman in profile wearing a cap, fichu and ribbon. The work belongs to the portrait genre and is classified within The American Wing, reflecting the formal conventions of early-American portraiture through its restrained composition and delicate handling of line and color. Attribution to Samuel Wallin is documented, and the piece is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
History & Provenance
The watercolor portrait known as Mrs. David Howe (Sarah Whitney) was created in 1839 by the artist Samuel Wallin. Executed on ivory, the work measures 7.2 by 5.8 centimetres and resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing. The piece is attributed to Wallin and depicts a woman in profile wearing a cap, fichu, and ribbon.
Although the specific commission details and the full chain of ownership prior to the museum's acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation is firmly dated to 1839, placing it within early nineteenth-century American portraiture. It belongs to the museum's American Wing portrait collection, shown alongside other nineteenth-century portraits of women.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Mrs. David Howe, identified as Sarah Whitney, presented in a refined profile view. Her dark hair is elegantly styled upwards, complemented by a simple white cap and a high-necked dress. The soft, almost ethereal gray background accentuates the sitter's features.
Rendered on ivory, the artwork is small enough to be held in one's hand, characteristic of this intimate portraiture format.
Context
During the period when this portrait was created, large-scale oil paintings on canvas were the predominant form of portraiture. However, miniatures like this one served a distinct purpose. Their compact size made them highly portable, allowing individuals to carry likenesses of loved ones with them, much like modern photographs. This intimate format facilitated personal connection and remembrance, distinguishing them from more formal, static wall portraits.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Wallin was a Swedish artist who worked as a draftsman and engraver. His activity lay in printmaking and graphic art, encompassing both the drawing of designs and their reproduction as engravings.
