Adaline Peters Brown

William Henry Brown, 1843

MEDIUMWatercolor on ivory
DIMENSIONSImage: 3 1/16 x 2 1/2 in. (7.8 x 6.4 cm) Ivory: 3 1/8 x 2 3/4 in. (7.9 x 7 cm)
LOCATIONThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
COLLECTIONThe American Wing
CULTUREAmerican
CREDIT LINEMaria DeWitt Jesup Fund, 1990

Stop to appreciate the exquisite detail in this watercolor on ivory miniature. Adaline Peters Brown's direct gaze and the luminous quality of the portrait offer a captivating glimpse into 19th-century personal keepsakes.

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ABOUT THIS WORK

In this delicate miniature, Adaline Peters Brown gazes out with a direct, engaging expression, her dark hair neatly parted and pulled back. The artist, William Henry Brown, captures her features with remarkable precision, from the subtle blush on her cheeks to the individual strands of hair framing her face. She wears a simple dark dress, allowing the focus to remain on her countenance, which is illuminated by a soft, even light. This intimate watercolor on ivory portrait, created in 1843, reflects a popular practice of the era for preserving the likenesses of loved ones. The small scale and precious materials would have made such a portrait a cherished personal object, designed to be held and admired up close.

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What to Notice

1

The delicate brushwork defining the lace collar and pleats of her dress.

2

The subtle rosy tint on her cheeks and lips, giving life to her expression.

3

The way her dark hair is meticulously rendered, showing individual strands.

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Audio Deep Dive

Stop to appreciate the exquisite detail in this watercolor on ivory miniature. Adaline Peters Brown's direct gaze and the luminous quality of the portrait offe…

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THE ARTIST
William Henry Brown 1815–1875

William Henry Brown, known for his silhouette portraits and early photographic experiments, captured the likenesses of figures like John Quincy Adams.

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