Portrait of a Lady 1835 - 1845

This miniature portrait of a lady was painted by William Harrison Scarborough in the 19th century. Observe how the sitter's hairstyle, with its severe center part and smooth, dark waves framing her face, echoes styles seen in Roman portraiture. This 'coiffure à la Titus', popularized during the Neoclassical period, was meant to evoke the virtues of the Roman Republic. The motif of the female portrait, immortalizing the likeness of a woman, is ancient. Think of the Fayum mummy portraits, or the iconic image of Nefertiti. Each era imbues the female image with its own ideals. Here, the woman’s modest dress and demure gaze reflect the 19th-century emphasis on female virtue and domesticity. Yet, the persistence of classical elements reminds us that images never truly die; they are constantly reborn, carrying echoes of the past.