Artwork
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
No additional context regarding the boy's identity, social status, or the symbolic intent of the composition is recorded in the available documentation.
The artwork is identified strictly as a portrait depicting a boy, created in 1797 by an unknown artist. As a work of portraiture, its primary function is the representation of this specific juvenile subject. The sources do not provide details regarding specific iconographic elements, symbolic attributes, or a deeper allegorical meaning beyond the act of capturing the boy's likeness.
The piece is classified within the genre of portraiture and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. No additional context regarding the boy's identity, social status, or the symbolic intent of the composition is recorded in the available documentation.
Technique & Style
Created in 1797, this portrait of a boy is executed in watercolor on an ivory support. The work is classified as a miniature painting, characterized by its diminutive scale, measuring approximately 3.8 centimeters in height and 2.8 centimeters in width. The application of watercolor on ivory was a standard technique for American portrait miniatures of the late eighteenth century, allowing for delicate modeling of facial features.
While the specific artist remains unknown, the piece demonstrates the formal qualities typical of the genre, focusing on a intimate depiction of the youthful subject. The object is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing, where its small physical dimensions necessitate close viewing to appreciate the handling of the medium.
History & Provenance
The work titled Portrait of a Boy is a watercolor on ivory dating to 1797, recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue as part of The American Wing. It is attributed to an anonymous hand and classified as a portrait genre, depicting a young boy. The painting’s dimensions measure 3.8 × 2.8 inches, consistent with the museum’s accession record.
Its inclusion in the Met’s collection marks the known ownership chain from creation to present custody, though earlier provenance details are undocumented. The work’s creation history is defined by its medium, date, and anonymous authorship, with no evidence of a specific commission.
Portrait of a Boy, an 1797 watercolor on ivory by an unknown artist, is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is classified under The American Wing. Its accession number is 2006.235.255. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This small artwork, titled Portrait of a Boy, is a watercolor on ivory. It depicts a young boy with a direct gaze, rosy cheeks, and a high-collared coat, holding a book. Such intimate pieces, known as miniatures, were often designed to be worn as personal adornments, such as a locket or brooch, allowing the owner to keep a loved one's image close.
Context
Miniatures like this portrait served a distinct social purpose, functioning as highly personal keepsakes. Their small scale made them ideal for integration into jewelry, such as lockets or brooches, allowing individuals to carry images of family members or loved ones discreetly. These wearable artworks were popular for commemorating relationships and preserving memories before the advent of photography.
Artist & collection
- Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Girl
Portrait of a Baby
George Howard (1773–1848), Lord Morpeth
Portrait of a Child
Portrait of mogelijk Willem IV van Oranje- Nassau (1711-1751)
Sir George Armytage (1761–1836), Fourth Baronet
Portrait of a Boy
