Samuel Goodwin, Sr. 1767 - 1837

Curator: The intimacy is immediately striking; it feels as if I’ve stumbled upon a secret glimpse. Editor: Indeed. What we see here is a portrait miniature of Samuel Goodwin, Sr., dating to the period of 1767 to 1837 and created by John Hazlitt. This particular portrait resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Curator: The framing really amplifies that feeling. The way it's presented within that oval locket... It feels less like a public declaration and more like a treasured memento, a whisper of remembrance. Editor: Precisely! The very essence of Neoclassical portraiture often served very distinct societal functions—did it showcase familial status or social standing. Miniatures had a particularly unique function, and these served as sentimental keepsakes, portable images to hold close. It speaks to the culture of portraiture and how likeness was consumed in that era. Curator: Absolutely. And notice how the gaze of Goodwin himself—forthright but gentle—connects across centuries. I'm fascinated by the psychological weight carried within the image and his almost severe simplicity of dress. He wears his jacket closed with no visible ornamentation: there are few visual clues regarding his class. Editor: What fascinates me, Iconographer, is the social agency this tiny piece held. It existed within a network of social relationships and acted as a symbol within that structure. I think such keepsakes humanize those who otherwise seem so distant to our current lives. Curator: That’s beautifully said. Even now, staring back at the image, the power to trigger such deeply human connections hasn't faded. It’s more than art; it's a thread across time. Editor: Yes, and considering that portraits, then and now, engage viewers within very particular power dynamics, these pocket portraits are powerful reminders. Curator: Ultimately, seeing Goodwin's portrait this way gives new perspective to how symbols, even personal ones, transcend individual stories to tell greater ones about cultural memory itself.