Artwork
Dr. Richard A. Maupin
Dr. Richard A. Maupin is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait, titled Dr.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The depiction functions as a visual record of a notable citizen, reflecting contemporary expectations of dignity and professional standing.
The watercolour on ivory dated 1820 portrays a male sitter identified as Dr. Richard A. Maupin, an American subject whose likeness is classified within the portrait genre of The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As an anonymous painting in the museum’s collection, the work exemplifies early-nineteenth-century portraiture, emphasizing the sitter’s presence through modest scale (approximately 8.9 × 6 cm) and restrained iconography. The depiction functions as a visual record of a notable citizen, reflecting contemporary expectations of dignity and professional standing.
Technique & Style
The miniature is executed in watercolour on ivory, a characteristic technique for American portrait miniatures of the early nineteenth century. The support consists of a small ivory panel measuring 8.9 cm in height by 6 cm in width, a typical format for keepsake portraits intended for personal display. The work is classified as a portrait within the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing, and its modest scale and refined handling are consistent with the conventions of the genre around 1820.
The watercolour medium allows for delicate, translucent layering suited to detailed facial features on the smooth ivory ground. The portrait depicts a man and is attributed to an unknown artist; no condition report is provided in the sourced material.
History & Provenance
Dr. Richard A. Maupin is a watercolour portrait on ivory measuring 8.9 × 6 cm, dated 1820 and attributed to an unknown artist. It is held in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed as an anonymous painting depicting a man. Its recorded history is limited to the date and medium; no commission details, prior owners, accession number, or exhibition history are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This miniature portrait, titled Dr. Richard A. Maupin, depicts a man with a direct gaze and composed expression. Rendered in watercolor on ivory, this small-scale work served as a personal memento, a common practice for portraits in its era. The artist, though unidentified, meticulously captured the sitter's features, creating an intimate image designed for close viewing and portability, characteristic of American portraiture from its period.
Context
Miniature portraits like Dr. Richard A. Maupin played a significant cultural role before the advent of photography. They functioned as portable images, allowing individuals to carry likenesses of family members or esteemed figures. This artwork belongs to the tradition of American portraiture, reflecting the artistic conventions and social customs surrounding personal representation during its time, highlighting the evolving ways faces were captured.
Artist & collection
