Artwork
Mrs. Anstis Stone
Mrs. Anstis Stone is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist William Verstille. It dates from 1802 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This watercolor on ivory depicts Mrs.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.263
- Credit line
- Dale T. Johnson Fund, 2006
About this work
Technique & Style
8 by 4 centimeters, an intimate format consistent with portable keepsake likenesses of the period.
Mrs. Anstis Stone is a small-scale portrait executed in watercolor on ivory, a support and medium combination characteristic of early-nineteenth-century American miniature practice. The work measures approximately 4.8 by 4 centimeters, an intimate format consistent with portable keepsake likenesses of the period. The sitter is depicted wearing a cap, fichu, and lace, suggesting careful rendering of fine textile detail and translucent fabric against the luminous ivory ground.
As a watercolor on ivory, the handling relies on thin, translucent washes built up over the smooth, pale support, allowing the natural tone of the ivory to contribute to the luminosity of the skin. The portrait is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The watercolor portrait Mrs. Anstis Stone was created by the artist William Verstille in 1802. Executed on ivory, this miniature depicts a woman adorned with a cap, fichu, and lace, and measures 4.8 centimeters in height by 4 centimeters in width. The piece is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing.
The specific commissioning patron and the chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not detailed in the available records, nor do the sources provide an accession number or list any exhibitions for this object.
Overview
This watercolor on ivory depicts Mrs. Anstis Stone, a small-scale portrait designed to be held in the hand. The subject, a woman in a white lace cap, gazes directly forward, her simple attire featuring subtle ruffles at the neckline. The background is a muted, almost featureless gray, allowing the viewer's attention to remain focused on the sitter's face and delicate details.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents Mrs. Anstis Stone with a calm and direct demeanor. Her white lace cap and plain dress with small neck ruffles suggest a modest yet refined appearance typical of American portraiture from its period. The artist's focus on her steady gaze and unadorned presentation creates an intimate portrayal, inviting a personal connection with the sitter.
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,…
