Who painted Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne)?

Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne) was painted by Thomas Seir Cummings in ca. 1844.

Where can I see Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne)?

Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne)?

Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne) is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne)

Thomas Seir Cummings , 1844

Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne) is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Thomas Seir Cummings. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 23.80.83
Credit line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Moore, 1923

About this work

Subject & Meaning

Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne) portrays a woman identified as the wife of Thomas Streatfield Clarkson, also known as Elizabeth Van Horne.

The painting titled Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne) portrays a woman identified as the wife of Thomas Streatfield Clarkson, also known as Elizabeth Van Horne. Rendered in watercolor on ivory in 1844 by Thomas Seir Cummings, the work is classified as a portrait and is housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a portrait, it serves to record the sitter’s likeness and to convey her position within early‑19th‑century American society, reflecting the genre’s traditional emphasis on identity and social standing.

The piece is documented in both the museum’s catalog and Wikidata entries, confirming its date, medium, and location.

Technique & Style

Created in 1844 by Thomas Seir Cummings, this portrait of Elizabeth Van Horne is executed as a watercolor on ivory. The work is classified as a miniature portrait, a format defined by its small dimensions, measuring 9.8 cm in height and 7.6 cm in width. The choice of ivory as a support material is characteristic of the genre, requiring the artist to apply watercolor pigments with specific handling techniques suited to the translucent and smooth surface.

The resulting image presents a formal depiction of the sitter, adhering to the stylistic conventions of mid-19th-century American portraiture found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

History & Provenance

The watercolor on ivory portrait of Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne) by Thomas Seir Cummings is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, classified within The American Wing. Created in 1844, the work measures 9.8 by 7.6 centimeters and is catalogued as part of the museum's holdings. No specific accession number, acquisition details, or exhibition history are documented in the available sources for this portrait.

Overview

Thomas Seir Cummings painted this watercolor portrait, titled Mrs. Thomas Streatfield Clarkson (Elizabeth Van Horne), around 1844. The work captures Elizabeth Van Horne, presenting her with a quiet dignity. This miniature is executed on ivory, a common support for such small-scale pieces during the period, and is housed within The American Wing's collection.

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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