Who painted Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb)?

Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb) was painted by Thomas Seir Cummings in ca. 1843.

Where can I see Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb)?

Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb)?

Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb) is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb)

Thomas Seir Cummings , 1843

Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Thomas Seir Cummings. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Mrs.

Accession no.: 2006.235.33
Credit line: Gift of Gloria Manney, 2006

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Created in 1843 by Thomas Seir Cummings, the piece presents the subject as a woman in a formal composition typical of the genre.

The work is a portrait depicting Catherine Navarre Macomb Cammann, the wife of Oswald John Cammann. Created in 1843 by Thomas Seir Cummings, the piece presents the subject as a woman in a formal composition typical of the genre. As a portrait, the primary meaning of the work is to capture the likeness and presence of Mrs. Cammann.

The medium, watercolor on ivory, was a traditional choice for intimate, high-status likenesses in the mid-nineteenth century, emphasizing the sitter's social standing. The artwork serves as a visual record of the subject, focusing on her identity as a member of prominent New York society rather than incorporating complex allegorical symbolism beyond the conventions of the portrait genre itself.

Technique & Style

The 1843 portrait of Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb) is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a medium noted for its translucent washes and fine detail. Measuring roughly 10.5 × 8.5 cm, the work belongs to the American Wing's portrait genre and portrays the sitter with a restrained composition typical of mid-nineteenth-century American miniature painting. The delicate handling of pigment on the smooth ivory ground yields a subtle surface sheen and precise rendering of facial features, while the overall palette remains muted, emphasizing the sitter's dignified presence. The piece is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

The portrait Mrs. Oswald John Cammann (Catherine Navarre Macomb) is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is cataloged under the accession number 43.13.1. Executed in 1843 by Thomas Seir Cummings as a watercolor on ivory, the work measures 10.5 × 8.5 cm and remains in the museum's holdings as of the source record.

Overview

This miniature portrait depicts Mrs. Oswald John Cammann, also known as Catherine Navarre Macomb. Executed in watercolor on a thin slice of ivory, the artwork presents a seated woman in a dark dress, her hands clasped in her lap. Its diminutive scale, smaller than a postcard, reflects the common practice of creating portable likenesses before the advent of photography. This piece is housed within the American Wing.

Context

Before the widespread availability of photography, miniature portraits served a similar function to modern photographs. These small, intimate likenesses were often commissioned to be carried by individuals, allowing them to keep an image of a loved one close. They functioned as personal mementos, exchanged between family members or carried during travel, making them a significant form of personal expression and connection.

Mrs. Ann Williams, Tŷ Newydd, Hugh Hughes

Artist & collection

Artist

Thomas Seir Cummings

Thomas Seir Cummings (1804–1894) was an artist, born in Bath.

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art

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