Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The classification within The American Wing suggests its origin and stylistic context are rooted in United States art history of the early nineteenth century.
Executed in 1835, this portrait utilizes watercolor applied to an ivory support, a medium characteristic of miniature painting traditions. The work presents a formal depiction of a woman, adhering to the conventions of the portrait genre. Physically, the object is small in scale, measuring approximately 5.2 by 4.3 units, which aligns with the intimate nature of ivory miniatures intended for personal viewing.
The classification within The American Wing suggests its origin and stylistic context are rooted in United States art history of the early nineteenth century. While the specific artist remains unidentified, the technical choice of ivory as a ground imparts a luminous quality to the watercolor layers, distinguishing it from canvas or panel paintings of the same era.
History & Provenance
Created in 1835, this watercolor on ivory portrait depicts an unidentified woman. The work is attributed to an unknown artist, with no specific commissioning patron recorded in available documentation. Measuring approximately 5.2 by 4.3 units, the piece entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within the American Wing.
The museum assigned the accession number 2006.235.254 to the object, indicating its formal acquisition and cataloging occurred in 2006. Prior to this institutional ownership, the specific chain of custody or previous private holders remains unlisted in the provided records.
Context
The Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor on ivory dating to 1835, housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It exemplifies early‑19th‑century American portraiture, depicting a woman in a genteel pose typical of the genre. The work is attributed to an anonymous artist, underscoring the limited documentation of female creators in this era.
Its inclusion in a major museum collection reflects scholarly attention to documenting the development of portrait miniatures in the United States. The piece offers insight into contemporary ideals of femininity and the technical conventions of watercolor miniatures.
Overview
This artwork, titled Portrait of a Lady, is a watercolor painted on ivory. It depicts a woman gazing directly forward, dressed in a dark gown accented by a white lace collar. Her hair is smoothly styled and pulled back.
The delicate application of watercolor creates a luminous quality, particularly noticeable in the rendering of her skin, characteristic of this miniature format.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, an unidentified woman, is presented with a direct gaze, inviting a personal connection. Such small-scale portraits were frequently commissioned as intimate mementos. Their compact size often allowed them to be worn as jewelry, such as in lockets, reflecting their role as cherished personal keepsakes rather than public displays.
Artist & collection
