Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist Walter Robertson. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 95.14.112
- Credit line
- The Moses Lazarus Collection, Gift of Josephine and Sarah Lazarus, in memory of their father, 1888-95
About this work
Technique & Style
The portrait, classified within The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a woman and is documented as part of the museum’s collection.
The work titled Portrait of a Lady, executed by Walter Robertson in 1795, is a watercolor painting on an ivory support, a technique typical of early American portrait miniatures. The ivory panel, measuring approximately 7.3 by 5.7 centimeters, serves as the ground on which translucent watercolor pigments were layered to achieve fine detail. Robertson’s handling emphasizes a delicate rendering of facial features and clothing, while the limited palette and subtle tonal transitions create a quiet, intimate formal quality.
The portrait, classified within The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts a woman and is documented as part of the museum’s collection.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor on ivory created by the artist Walter Robertson in 1795. This miniature work, measuring 7.3 by 5.7 centimeters, depicts a woman and is classified within the genre of portraiture. The piece is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it resides in The American Wing.
While the specific commission details and the chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, the work's creation is firmly dated to 1795. The artwork stands as a documented example of Robertson's portraiture from the late 18th century.
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is recorded in the institution’s collection under accession number 1975.1.110. It was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1975 as part of the display associated with this acquisition.
Overview
This watercolor miniature, titled Portrait of a Lady, was created by Walter Robertson around 1795. Executed on a small piece of ivory, it presents an intimate depiction of an unidentified woman. The artwork is housed within the American Wing, reflecting its likely production in the United States during a period when such portable portraits served as cherished personal mementos.
Context
During the 1790s, miniature portraits like this one functioned as highly personal objects, akin to contemporary photographs. Their small size made them easily portable, facilitating their exchange as tokens of affection or remembrance among individuals. While Portrait of a Lady was likely produced in America, its stylistic characteristics suggest an influence from the established traditions of British miniaturists of the era.
Artist & collection
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