Artwork
Mrs. Henry Pratt (Rebecca Claypoole)
Mrs. Henry Pratt (Rebecca Claypoole) is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1787 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Rebecca Claypoole, also known as Mrs.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a privately commissioned work, it primarily functions as a personal record of identity and social position rather than conveying overt allegory or narrative.
The portrait depicts Rebecca Claypoole, the wife of Henry Pratt, rendered in watercolor and gouache on vellum. She is shown wearing a lace-trimmed garment and a pearl necklace, attire consistent with late-eighteenth-century elite fashion in America. The delicate rendering of textiles and jewelry underscores her social standing and femininity, aligning with conventions of portraiture that signaled refinement and status.
The work serves as a commemorative image, capturing her likeness for posterity within the domestic sphere. As a privately commissioned work, it primarily functions as a personal record of identity and social position rather than conveying overt allegory or narrative.
Technique & Style
Created in 1787, this portrait of Rebecca Claypoole Pratt is executed in watercolor and gouache applied to a vellum support. The work, measuring 4.1 inches in height and 3.2 inches in width, exemplifies the miniature portrait tradition through its intimate scale and delicate handling. The artist employs opaque and transparent water-based pigments to render the sitter's features and attire with precision.
Formal qualities include the detailed depiction of a pearl necklace and intricate lace, highlighting the medium's capacity for fine textural definition. The composition focuses on the upper body of the woman, utilizing the smooth vellum surface to achieve the refined finish characteristic of late 18th-century American portraiture.
History & Provenance
The work titled Mrs. Henry Pratt (Rebecca Claypoole) is a watercolor and gouache painting on vellum dated to 1787. It portrays Rebecca Claypoole, wife of Henry Pratt, wearing lace and a pearl necklace. The artist is recorded as unknown, and the piece was created in the United States, as indicated by its classification within The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The painting entered the museum’s collection at an undocumented date, but its provenance is documented through the museum’s holdings, with the work listed under the museum’s American portrait genre. Its dimensions are approximately 4.1 × 3.2 units, matching the recorded size.
The watercolor and gouache portrait titled Mrs. Henry Pratt (Rebecca Claypoole), executed in 1787, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is classified within the museum's American Wing. While the specific accession number is not detailed in the available records, the institution is confirmed as the current location and custodian of the piece.
The provided sources do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history for this artwork, focusing instead on its physical attributes and current institutional housing.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Rebecca Claypoole, also known as Mrs. Henry Pratt. Executed in watercolor and gouache on vellum, the artwork captures the sitter with meticulous detail. The small scale of the piece allows for an intimate viewing experience, highlighting the delicate rendering of her attire and jewelry. It is housed within The American Wing, reflecting its historical and artistic significance.
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