Mrs. William Boswell Lamb (Margaret Stuart Kerr)

Unidentified, Mrs. William Boswell Lamb (Margaret Stuart Kerr), ca. 1795, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1980.126.5
Copied Unidentified, Mrs. William Boswell Lamb (Margaret Stuart Kerr), ca. 1795, watercolor on ivory, sight 1 581 18 in. (4.03.0 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1980.126.5
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Artwork Details

Title
Mrs. William Boswell Lamb (Margaret Stuart Kerr)
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1795
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 1 581 18 in. (4.03.0 cm) oval
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait female — Lamb, Margaret — bust
  • Portrait female — Lamb, William, R., Mrs. — bust
Object Number
1980.126.5

Artwork Description

This miniature was probably painted to commemorate the 1794 marriage of William Boswell Lamb and Margaret Stuart Kerr. Mr. Lamb was an important political figure in Norfolk, Virginia, where he began his service as mayor in 1810. The couple’s son, William Wilson Lamb, was also involved in politics and was known for hiding the city’s silver mace beneath a fireplace hearth to protect it during the Civil War. The artist painted a vivid blue background to highlight the detailed costume of the elder Lamb. In his wife’s portrait, however, the subtle colors and delicate brushwork emphasize her wide eyes and tightly curled hair.