Artwork
Portrait Miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette
Portrait Miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1785 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This miniature portrait presents the Marquis de Lafayette, a prominent French participant in the American Revolution.
- Accession no.
- 83.2.326a
- Credit line
- Gift of William H. Huntington, 1883
About this work
A small profile portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette, shown in a fine uniform. The French hero of the American Revolution is modeled here in papier mache, an unusual choice for a portrait. It dates to 1785.
Subject & Meaning
The work functions primarily as a commemorative representation of the Marquis, capturing his identity at a specific historical moment.
The work depicts Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, rendered in profile as a man. Created in 1785, this portrait miniature identifies the French aristocrat and military officer as its sole main subject. While the artist remains anonymous, the piece serves as a direct visual record of Lafayette during the period following his service in the American Revolutionary War.
The choice of the profile orientation and the intimate scale of the papier-mâché medium are characteristic of late 18th-century portraiture, focusing on the individual's likeness rather than complex narrative symbolism. The work functions primarily as a commemorative representation of the Marquis, capturing his identity at a specific historical moment.
Technique & Style
The Portrait Miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette, dated 1785, is described in the museum records as a work on papier mache and also identified as a painting by an anonymous artist in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. The support is therefore a papier mache substrate, and the medium is characterized as paint applied to that ground. The image shows Lafayette in profile, a conventional pose for miniature portraiture of the period, with fine linear detailing typical of the genre. No information on the object’s current condition or specific handling techniques is provided in the sources.
History & Provenance
The portrait miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette is dated to 1785, with its inception recorded as the start of that year. The work, executed on papier mâché by an anonymous painter, entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection under the accession designation MET 83.2.326a. No details of its commission, prior ownership chain, or earlier provenance are documented in the available records.
The portrait miniature of the Marquis de Lafayette is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is part of the American Wing collection (accession number 83.2.326a). The work is catalogued as a papier‑mâché miniature dated to 1785 and depicts Lafayette in profile, consistent with other portrait miniatures of the period. The sources do not mention any past exhibitions, so no exhibition history is recorded for this object in the provided material.
Overview
This miniature portrait presents the Marquis de Lafayette, a prominent French participant in the American Revolution. Executed in papier-mâché, an unconventional material for such works, the piece depicts him in profile, attired in a formal uniform. Its inclusion in the American Wing highlights his enduring historical importance to the United States.
Context
This artwork's placement within the American Wing underscores the widespread admiration for figures like Lafayette following the Revolutionary War. Such portraits served as visual testaments to the individuals who shaped the nation's early history, offering insight into how these celebrated heroes were presented and remembered by contemporary audiences.
Artist & collection
