Artwork
Mrs. Henry Scudder Plat (Maria Frisbie)
Mrs. Henry Scudder Plat (Maria Frisbie) is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This watercolor on ivory depicts Mrs.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As an anonymous creation, the artwork functions primarily as a likeness rather than a complex narrative scene.
The work is a portrait depicting Maria Frisbie, identified as Mrs. Henry Scudder Plat. Executed as a miniature on ivory in 1830, the piece focuses exclusively on the representation of a woman. As an anonymous creation, the artwork functions primarily as a likeness rather than a complex narrative scene.
The subject is presented without additional contextual figures or objects that would suggest specific allegorical meanings or symbolic iconography beyond her status as a female sitter. The composition adheres to the conventions of early nineteenth-century American portraiture, capturing the individual's presence through the medium of watercolour on ivory.
Technique & Style
Created in 1830, this anonymous portrait depicts a woman using watercolour applied to an ivory support. The work is classified as a miniature painting, characterized by its small physical dimensions, measuring approximately 6.2 centimetres in height and 5 centimetres in width. Housed within the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the object exemplifies early nineteenth-century portraiture, in which the translucency of watercolour interacts with the smooth, luminous surface of the ivory to render facial features.
The handling of the medium on this non-absorbent ground allows for the delicate modelling typical of the genre, though no details regarding the current condition or conservation history are provided in the available records.
History & Provenance
Created in 1830, the watercolour-on-ivory portrait of Maria Frisbie, known as Mrs. Henry Scudder Plat, is by an unknown artist. The work is a small-scale likeness measuring 6.2 by 5 centimetres. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is housed within the American Wing.
The chain of ownership prior to its acquisition by the museum is not detailed in the provided records, which also list no specific accession or inventory number, nor any documented exhibition history for the portrait.
Overview
This watercolor on ivory depicts Mrs. Henry Scudder Plat, also known as Maria Frisbie. The miniature portrait presents a woman in a dark dress, her gaze directed forward. A delicate lace collar provides a bright contrast against the fabric, while a small gold brooch subtly adorns her throat. Its compact size allowed for personal possession, reflecting a common practice of the era.
Context
Miniature portraits like this one served a practical and sentimental purpose, enabling individuals to carry images of loved ones in lockets or pockets. While many such works were created by male artists, women also contributed to this art form, though their identities are frequently unrecorded. The practice flourished as a means of personal remembrance before the advent of photography.
Artist & collection
