Artwork
Maria Margaretta Oswald
Maria Margaretta Oswald is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Thomas Seir Cummings. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The smooth, non-absorbent surface of ivory supports luminous color effects and crisp linear precision.
Maria Margaretta Oswald is a portrait miniature executed in watercolor on ivory, a medium characteristic of elite American portraiture in the mid-nineteenth century. The work measures 5.6 by 4.2 centimeters, indicating the intimate scale typical of miniature painting. Thomas Seir Cummings, working in 1850, employed the delicate, precise handling that watercolor on ivory demands, allowing for fine detail and subtle tonal gradations in the depiction of the sitter.
The smooth, non-absorbent surface of ivory supports luminous color effects and crisp linear precision. As a portrait genre work held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, the piece exemplifies the refined technical standards and stylistic conventions of antebellum American miniature painting, with its emphasis on elegance, likeness, and meticulous craftsmanship.
History & Provenance
Thomas Seir Cummings created Maria Margaretta Oswald as a watercolor portrait on ivory in 1850, depicting a woman. The work is classified within the American Wing's portrait genre and measures 5.6 × 4.2 inches (height × width). It has been part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection since its creation, as recorded in the museum's catalog.
No documentation regarding a specific commission or ownership transfers prior to its acquisition by the Met is available. The painting's dimensions and classification are noted in the museum's records, confirming its provenance as a work held continuously by the institution since 1850.
The portrait Maria Margaretta Oswald is held by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is catalogued as accession number 56.135.1. The work, a watercolor on ivory dated 1850, has been exhibited by the museum as part of its holdings in The American Wing.
Overview
Thomas Seir Cummings painted Maria Margaretta Oswald in 1845, utilizing watercolor on ivory. This small-scale portrait captures a woman with a direct gaze, her hair neatly styled. Miniatures like this were a popular form of personal portraiture during the mid-19th century, often cherished for their intimate size and portability, serving as private mementos rather than public displays.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Maria Margaretta Oswald, is depicted in a dark dress, her hair parted precisely in the center. She faces forward, engaging the viewer directly with her steady gaze. This intimate portrayal reflects the common practice of commissioning miniatures to preserve the likeness of loved ones. Such works served as personal keepsakes, often exchanged among family members or carried as tokens of affection.
Context
As part of The American Wing's collection, Maria Margaretta Oswald represents a significant aspect of American portraiture from the mid-1800s. Miniature portraits on ivory were highly fashionable, offering an accessible and personal alternative to larger oil paintings. These small-format works were frequently commissioned to document family members or commemorate significant life events, reflecting a widespread cultural practice of the era.
Artist & collection
