Artwork
Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman
Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman is an unspecified painting. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed as a small-scale painting, the piece functions as the decorative lid for a snuff box, integrating the portrait into a functional object.
Created in 1805, this work is a portrait miniature attributed to the French artist Jean-Urbain Guérin. Executed as a small-scale painting, the piece functions as the decorative lid for a snuff box, integrating the portrait into a functional object. The artwork depicts a young woman, adhering to the genre conventions of early 19th-century miniature portraiture.
While the specific support material is not detailed in the available records, the classification identifies the object as a painting within the miniature tradition.
History & Provenance
The Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman is a portrait miniature created in 1805. It is attributed to the French artist Jean-Urbain Guérin, who lived from 1760 to 1836. The work entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is currently held under the accession number 2008.293.
While the specific commission details and earlier ownership history are not detailed in the available records, the piece is firmly dated to the early 19th century.
The Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland. The work is cataloged under the accession number 2008.293. It is identified as a portrait miniature created by Jean-Urbain Guérin in 1805. The sources do not list any specific exhibition history for this object.
Overview
This miniature painting, titled Snuff Box with a Portrait of a Young Woman, serves as both a decorative object and a personal artwork. Encased within an elaborately carved gold snuff box, the small portrait is designed to be held and viewed intimately. Its compact size emphasizes the personal nature of the artwork, making it a portable and private possession.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a young woman with dark, smooth hair and fair skin, her gaze calm and composed. She wears a simple white shawl draped over her shoulders, complemented by understated earrings and a necklace. The artist's focus remains entirely on her face and upper body, with a plain background ensuring no distractions from her serene presence.
Artist & collection
