Artwork
George Henry Remsen
George Henry Remsen is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist William Verstille. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait, its primary function is the representation of this individual rather than a narrative or allegorical scene.
The work depicts a single male subject, George Henry Remsen, in the genre of portraiture. Created by William Verstille in 1790, the piece uses watercolor on ivory to capture the sitter's likeness. As a portrait, its primary function is the representation of this individual rather than a narrative or allegorical scene.
The sources do not record additional iconographic elements or symbolic objects, so the work's significance rests on its role as a visual record of Remsen in a miniature format typical of the period.
Technique & Style
The miniature is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, reflecting the common practice for portrait miniatures in late-eighteenth-century America. Its small dimensions (4.8 cm × 3.7 cm) align with the intimate scale of such works. Watercolor over a polished ivory surface allowed fine, translucent modelling of the sitter's features, suited to conveying a refined likeness.
The handling prioritizes delicate line and subtle gradations of tone, typical of the neoclassical portrait style favored among American sitters of the period.
History & Provenance
The portrait of George Henry Remsen was created in 1790 by William Verstille as a watercolor on ivory, measuring 4.8 centimeters in height and 3.7 centimeters in width. It depicts a man and is classified within the genre of portraiture. The piece is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is part of The American Wing.
The specific commission details and original ownership chain prior to the museum's acquisition are not detailed in the available records, and no accession number or exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Overview
This miniature portrait by William Verstille depicts George Henry Remsen, created around 1790. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the work exemplifies the refined aesthetic of late Rococo portraiture. Verstille, an American artist active in major East Coast cities, specialized in capturing individual likenesses.
The small scale and precise execution were characteristic of the era's demand for intimate and portable personal images, reflecting a common practice among the affluent.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Verstille (c. 1757 – 1803) was an American artist who worked in Boston, Philadelphia and New York. He specialized in portraits. Examples of his artwork reside in the collections of the Harvard Art Museum,…
