Artwork
Ebenezer Slocum Burling
Ebenezer Slocum Burling is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
No specific attributes, props, or symbolic devices are documented in the available records to indicate particular themes of status, profession, or affiliation.
This 1815 watercolor on ivory is a portrait miniature depicting a man. As a portrait, the work functions as a personal likeness rather than an allegorical or narrative composition, so its meaning centers on the identification and commemoration of an individual sitter rather than on iconographic symbols or emblems. The miniature format, with its small scale suited to private keepsake use, is consistent with the conventions of early nineteenth-century American portraiture intended for intimate display.
No specific attributes, props, or symbolic devices are documented in the available records to indicate particular themes of status, profession, or affiliation.
Technique & Style
The portrait was created using watercolor pigments applied to a thin ivory support, a technique typical of early nineteenth‑century American miniatures. Its modest dimensions measure approximately 8.7 by 6.8 units, consistent with the format of contemporary portrait miniatures. The work is classified as a portrait genre piece depicting a male sitter, and it is housed in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is catalogued as part of the museum's collection of early American portraiture.
History & Provenance
The watercolor on ivory portrait of Ebenezer Slocum Burling was created in 1815 by an unidentified artist. No information is available in the provided sources regarding a commission, the sitter's role in initiating the work, or the circumstances of its creation. Likewise, the sources do not document any intermediate ownership, dealers, or transfers prior to its arrival at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently held as part of The American Wing collection.
The dating of 1815 is established through the inception date recorded for the work, with no further provenance chain, exhibition history, or acquisition details supplied.
Overview
This watercolor on ivory, titled Ebenezer Slocum Burling, presents a small-scale portrait of a man. Such miniature works were frequently created to be worn as personal adornments or carried as cherished mementos. Despite its diminutive size, the portrait captures a calm demeanor, reflecting a common practice of the era to create intimate, portable images for private contemplation or display.
Artist & collection
