Artwork
Portrait of a Lady
Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist William Harrison Scarborough. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work is an 1840 watercolor portrait of an unnamed woman, created by William Harrison Scarborough and now in The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As a portrait, it functions as a representation of the sitter’s identity and social presence typical of early American portraiture, emphasizing the subject’s status through the conventional visual conventions of the period. The painting’s iconography is limited to the standard portrait genre, with no additional symbolic attributes documented, allowing the work to be interpreted primarily as a visual record of a female sitter from the 1840s.
Technique & Style
As a portrait of a woman, the work exemplifies the refined handling and precise rendering associated with nineteenth-century American miniature portraiture.
William Harrison Scarborough's 1840 "Portrait of a Lady" is executed in watercolor on ivory, a medium characteristic of miniature painting traditions. The work measures 7.7 cm in height and 6.5 cm in width, reflecting the intimate scale typical of ivory supports. The watercolor technique on this smooth, non-absorbent surface would have required delicate, controlled brushwork to achieve fine detail.
As a portrait of a woman, the work exemplifies the refined handling and precise rendering associated with nineteenth-century American miniature portraiture. The ivory support allows for luminous, translucent color effects, contributing to the formal elegance of the composition.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Lady is a watercolor on ivory created by William Harrison Scarborough in 1840. This small-scale work, measuring 7.7 by 6.5 centimeters, depicts a woman and is classified within the genre of portraiture. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, within The American Wing.
The available records do not specify an accession or inventory number for the object, nor do they document any exhibition history or loans to other institutions.
Overview
William Harrison Scarborough's Portrait of a Lady, created around 1840, is a small-scale watercolor on ivory. This delicate work depicts a woman in a dark dress with a bright lace collar, looking directly forward. The miniature format, common for its era, allowed for a personal and portable image. Scarborough, an American artist, primarily worked in the Southern United States during the 19th century.
Context
Miniature portraits such as this served a significant social function in the 19th century. Their small size made them ideal for personal keepsakes, allowing individuals to carry images of loved ones or significant figures. These delicate works were often exchanged between family members or friends, acting as tangible mementos that could be easily transported and privately cherished.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Harrison Scarborough was an American portrait painter active chiefly in South Carolina.
