Artwork
Mrs. Andrew Symmes (Lydia Gale)
Mrs. Andrew Symmes (Lydia Gale) is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1763 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Mrs.
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1763, this portrait of Lydia Gale is executed in watercolor on an ivory support.
Created in 1763, this portrait of Lydia Gale is executed in watercolor on an ivory support. It is a miniature, measuring approximately 3.7 by 3.5 centimetres. An anonymous piece within The American Wing collection, it uses the translucent qualities of watercolor to render the likeness of the female sitter on the smooth, hard ivory surface, following the conventions of mid-eighteenth-century portraiture.
History & Provenance
The watercolor portrait Mrs. Andrew Symmes (Lydia Gale), created in 1763, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, classified under the museum's American Wing. The available records do not specify an accession number, nor do they list any past exhibitions or loan history for this anonymous depiction of a woman.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Mrs. Andrew Symmes, also known as Lydia Gale, rendered in watercolor on a delicate ivory support. The subject gazes directly forward, her powdered white hair framing a face with subtle pink cheeks. She holds a single red carnation, a detail that adds a touch of color and symbolism to the composition. The artwork's small scale is characteristic of portrait miniatures from its era.
Subject & Meaning
Lydia Gale, presented in a pale blue gown, is the central figure of this intimate artwork. Her hair, styled with white powder, and her subtly flushed cheeks suggest contemporary fashion and an idealized complexion. The red carnation she holds serves as a focal point, its vibrant hue contrasting with her attire. In portraiture, a carnation often symbolized love, betrothal, or devotion, imbuing the sitter with a specific sentiment.
Artist & collection
