Mrs. Joseph Donaldson (Frances Johnston) 1776

This miniature portrait of Mrs. Joseph Donaldson, painted by Charles Willson Peale in 1776, showcases the artist's skilled use of watercolor on ivory. The delicate details of Frances Johnston's powdered hair, pearl necklace, and lace-trimmed dress are beautifully rendered in this small, oval format. Peale, a renowned American painter, often captured the likeness of prominent figures, and this miniature portrait, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the elegance of 18th-century fashion and the enduring legacy of the artist's meticulous craftsmanship.