Artwork
Mrs. William Gordon Ver Planck and Her Son Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck
Mrs. William Gordon Ver Planck and Her Son Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This intimate portrait, titled Mrs.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
William Gordon Ver Planck, together with her son Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck.
The watercolor on ivory portrays Mary Elizabeth Hopkins, known as Mrs. William Gordon Ver Planck, together with her son Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck. Classified as a portrait, the work belongs to the genre tradition of intimate family imagery, presenting the sitters as a mother and boy within a maternal composition. The depiction of mother and child together reflects the conventions of early nineteenth-century American portraiture, in which such pairings served to document lineage, family bonds, and social standing.
The small-scale format and refined medium of watercolor on ivory were typically associated with keepsake likenesses intended for private display, underscoring the personal significance of the bond between parent and heir.
Technique & Style
The 1828 portrait of Mrs. William Gordon Ver Planck and Her Son Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck is executed in watercolor on ivory, a refined miniature technique associated with early American portraiture. The support of ivory provided a smooth, luminous ground that lent itself to delicate handling and fine detail, well suited to a small-scale double portrait measuring 12.7 by 10.2 centimeters. The watercolor medium allowed for translucent layering and subtle tonal gradation, producing a soft, intimate rendering of the sitters.
The work is classified within The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is held as part of the museum's collection of portraits.
History & Provenance
The watercolor on ivory portrait of Mrs. William Gordon Ver Planck and Her Son Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing. According to the associated Wikidata record, the work is catalogued as an anonymous painting within that institution's holdings. The piece measures 12.7 cm in height by 10.2 cm in width.
While the sources confirm its current location and institutional classification, no specific accession number or documented exhibition history is provided in the available records.
Overview
This intimate portrait, titled Mrs. William Gordon Ver Planck and Her Son Samuel Hopkins Ver Planck, is a watercolor miniature painted on ivory. It captures a tender moment between a mother and her child, characteristic of personal keepsakes from its era. The small scale emphasizes its private function, designed to be held and cherished rather than displayed prominently.
Context
Miniatures like this one were primarily created as personal mementos, intended for private contemplation rather than public exhibition. Often exchanged between family members or loved ones, they served as portable reminders of affection and presence. Their small size made them ideal for carrying or keeping in intimate settings, reflecting their role as cherished keepsakes.
Artist & collection
- Mother and Child
Mrs. Andrew Bedford Bankson and Son, Gunning Bedford Bankson
The Children of Homer Ramsdell, Esq.
Mrs. Charles Willson Peale (Rachel Brewer) and Baby Eleanor
Portrait of a Lady
Rebecca Wetherill
Portrait of Ane Elisabeth (Elise) Gurlitt, né Saxild (1817-39)
Mrs. Robert Shurlock (Henrietta Ann Jane Russell, 1775–1849) and Her Daughter Ann
Lady Louth with her daughter
Selbstbildnis
Mrs. Nathaniel Bowen (Margaret Blake)
Anna Margaret Blake and Her Two Children
Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son
Mrs. Noah Smith and Her Children
Madonna and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist
The Alba Madonna
Madame Georges Charpentier and her Children
Mrs. Francis Brinley and Her Son Francis
Mrs. Mayer and Daughter
Madame Philippe Panon Desbassayns de Richemont (Jeanne Eglé Mourgue, 1778–1855) and Her Son, Eugène (1800–1859)