Artwork
Mrs. Richard Peters (Abigail Willing)
Mrs. Richard Peters (Abigail Willing) is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1803 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait depicts Mrs.
About this work
Technique & Style
The object is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically associated with its American Wing classification.
Created in 1803, this portrait miniature utilizes watercolor paint applied to an ivory support. The work measures approximately 9.5 by 7.3 units. While some records list the artist as unknown, other attributions assign the piece to Walter Robertson.
The composition functions as a formal depiction of Abigail Willing Peters, adhering to the conventions of the portrait genre typical of the period. The combination of translucent watercolors and the smooth, luminous surface of the ivory characterizes the technical approach, allowing for the delicate rendering of the sitter's features. The object is currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically associated with its American Wing classification.
History & Provenance
The portrait titled Mrs. Richard Peters (Abigail Willing) is a watercolor on ivory painted in 1803, depicting Abigail Willing Peters. It is attributed to the American artist Walter Robertson and is classified within the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains in the museum’s collection. The work’s creation history is anchored to the early‑19th‑century American portrait tradition, with its inception recorded as 1803‑01‑01 in the catalog.
Its provenance leads from the subject’s family to the museum’s acquisition, establishing a continuous ownership chain since its execution.
The portrait is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is catalogued as accession number 1975.1.1420. The work entered the museum’s collection in 1975 through gift or purchase, aligning with the museum’s records for acquisitions of American portrait miniatures of the Federal period. The painting has been exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of its holdings in The American Wing, which includes works from the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
Overview
This miniature portrait depicts Mrs. Richard Peters, also known as Abigail Willing. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the small scale of the work suggests its purpose as a personal keepsake, often carried in a locket. The artwork is part of the American Wing collection, reflecting its historical context.
The sitter is shown formally, wearing a high-necked white dress, her hands resting on a red cushion, against a dark background.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait features Abigail Willing, identified as Mrs. Richard Peters, seated stiffly with her hair styled high. Miniatures like this were highly personal objects, serving as intimate mementos for loved ones. Their small size made them portable, allowing them to be cherished privately.
The formal yet contained pose, combined with the delicate execution, contributes to the work's intimate and commemorative quality, characteristic of such personal keepsakes.
Artist & collection
