Portrait of a Lady

The portrait is executed in watercolor on ivory, a support typical of early 19th-century miniatures. The composition depicts a woman wearing a cap, lace collar, bow, and shawl, with a spinning wheel and table suggesting a domestic context. The handling is fine and detailed, characteristic of watercolor on ivory, with delicate rendering of lace and fabric.

The work measures 13.5 × 9.5 cm. Stylistically, it aligns with the miniature portrait tradition, likely Scottish, from the 1830s.

This small Scottish portrait miniature, created by an unknown artist around 1830–40, depicts an unidentified woman in a dark dress against a plain background. Rendered in watercolor on ivory, the work measures approximately 13.5 by 9.5 cm. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2006 as part of the significant collection assembled by Richard and Gloria Manney.

Miniature portraits like this one thrived in the decades preceding the widespread adoption of photography. They met a growing demand from the middle class for accessible personal likenesses, serving as cherished mementos. This particular piece also reflects a transatlantic appreciation for the genre, indicating its popularity across different regions in the early nineteenth century.

The provenance of this miniature is notably detailed. It was a part of the esteemed collection of New York philanthropists Richard and Gloria Manney, who were significant patrons of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work was featured in the Met’s 1990–91 exhibition "Tokens of Affection" and catalogued by Dale T. Johnson.

Gloria Manney later gifted it to the Museum in 2006, where it is now housed in the American Wing.