Mrs. Young

Artist Abraham Parsell

Periodca. 1830-1840

MediumOil on ivory, colorless glass, wood frame

DimensionsImage : 3.5 × 2 in. (8.9 × 5.1 cm)
Frame: 4.63 × 4 in. (11.7 × 10.2 cm)

InscribedInscribed in ink on verso "Mrs. Young"

ClassificationsPortrait Miniatures & Silhouettes

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1939

Object number1269

DescriptionPortrait of a young woman with dark brown hair, parted in the middle with three curls on each side, and a tortoiseshell comb in back. The woman wears a dark gray dress with puffed sleeves extending to the fingers and a white lace neckline, and is portrayed holding a book.
Curatorial RemarksPortrait miniatures flourished in the early United States as one of the most sought after forms of art. They were designed as mementos of the sitter, small enough to be worn as jewelry or safely tucked away. Portrait miniatures were often commissioned to commemorate significant events or presented as gifts and tokens of affection. The origins of portrait miniatures can be traced back to illuminated manuscripts and portrait medals, both staples of the Italian Renaissance period. United States miniatures were often reminiscient of the early European Rococo style, characterized by small and delicate ornamentation, though several elements distinguished these works, such as a focus on realism and attention to individuality. Famed Rhode Island artist Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) helped popularize the technique by complimenting his full-size oil portraits with miniature versions. A significant advancement in the genre was the advent of watercolors on ivory. This intricate and difficult technique enhanced colors and skin tones, furthering the acclaim of portrait miniatures in the United States.NotesAbraham Parsell was a miniaturist who was born in New Jersey ca. 1792 and was active in New York from about 1820 to 1856. The sitter of this portrait is identified only as "Mrs. Young, who originally came from North Jersey."

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