Mrs. Robertson (Margaret Berry), 1720–1795 1785

Curator: Before us we have a diminutive portrait of Mrs. Robertson, born Margaret Berry, created in 1785 by Thomas Engleheart. The work, carved from ivory, is currently held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: Its scale immediately lends it an intimacy. It's a piece designed for private viewing, perhaps even secret keeping. The profile view encased in the oval frame evokes a sense of looking into a locket, a world of sentiment and remembrance. Curator: Indeed. Consider the Rococo sensibilities evident here: the softness of the carving, the delicate detailing of the headdress. Observe how the curvature of the form echoes the oval frame, reinforcing the work’s internal harmony. It seems intended for visual delight as much as memorialization. Editor: And that headdress… a tightly wrapped turban-like structure that softens the line of the skull and neck, evoking fashionable portraits. It suggests her station but is echoed by the soft lace trim, like wisps of thought about a figure cloaked in fabric. Curator: Note, too, the negative space carefully carved between the sitter and her wrapping; this provides an interesting contrast with the solid ivory. Editor: Beyond the form, profiles traditionally signal stoicism or containment. But in this case, the miniature size and ivory’s association with purity or virtue, invite a tender viewing, perhaps the virtues or character admired in the deceased. I imagine this might have hung over a mantelpiece. Curator: Quite possibly. I find myself particularly drawn to the handling of light and shadow within such a confined space. See how the carving almost melts into shadow as it recedes into the background? It highlights the quality of Engleheart’s sculpting abilities and creates a dramatic tension. Editor: It's almost as though the black background gives way to another world where our departed go. Overall, what might appear a reserved, structured carving ultimately becomes evocative. Curator: Absolutely, it’s an essay in structure and visual harmony. Editor: A fascinating meditation on memory and intimate space.