Portrait of a Young Lady

William Verstille, Portrait of a Young Lady, ca. 1790, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1942.11.5
Copied William Verstille, Portrait of a Young Lady, ca. 1790, watercolor on ivory, 1 3⁄4 x 1 3⁄8 in. (4.5 x 3.5 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1942.11.5
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Young Lady
Artist
Date
ca. 1790
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
1 3⁄4 x 1 3⁄8 in. (4.5 x 3.5 cm) oval
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait female — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1942.11.5
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1942.11.5

Artwork Description

The identity of the young lady shown in this miniature remains a mystery. The artist’s delicate brushwork is evident in the fine lines of the sitter’s hair and the lace around her gown. The head and eyes appear disproportionally large, emphasizing her petite figure and innocent expression.