Artwork
Portrait of a Baby
Portrait of a Baby is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The piece is classified as a portrait and is housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The work portrays an infant, identified as the subject of a portrait. It is executed in watercolor on ivory and dated to 1845, measuring approximately 11 × 7.6 cm. The piece is classified as a portrait and is housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Both the title and the museum record note that the depiction falls under the categories of infant and portrait, confirming the central figure as a baby rendered in a conventional portrait format.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Baby, an 1845 watercolor on ivory, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing. The work measures 11 by 7.6 centimeters. No specific accession number is recorded in the available sources, and the documentation does not include any details regarding past exhibitions or display history for this work.
Overview
This miniature watercolor, titled Portrait of a Baby, depicts an infant resting on a red cushion, dressed in a white garment. Rendered on a small piece of ivory, the artwork exemplifies a common form of personal portraiture prevalent before the advent of photography. Its intimate scale and delicate execution suggest it was a cherished memento, though the identity of the child and family remains unknown.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor on a thin slice of ivory, this portrait showcases the medium's capacity for subtle effects. The artist employed soft washes to depict the baby's smooth skin and the delicate texture of the white dress. The use of ivory, derived from animal tusk and typically no larger than a credit card, was a popular choice for such intimate, keepsake images during its era, valued for its smooth surface and luminous quality.
Context
Before the widespread availability of photography, miniature portraits on ivory served as a primary means of preserving the likenesses of loved ones. These small-scale works were often commissioned as personal mementos, intended for private viewing or to be worn as jewelry. The delicate nature and intimate size of Portrait of a Baby reflect this tradition, functioning as a tangible reminder of a cherished individual, even as the specific details of their life have faded over time.
Artist & collection
