Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer III (Cornelia Paterson) 1825

Nathaniel Rogers painted this miniature portrait of Cornelia Paterson, who later became Mrs. Stephen Van Rensselaer III. Though small in scale, the portrait speaks volumes about the sitter's social standing and the cultural values of her time. Cornelia, adorned in a refined dark dress trimmed with lace, and a delicate veil, embodies early 19th-century ideals of femininity and affluence. Her serene expression and elegant attire reflect the importance of portraying oneself with dignity and grace. The fur around her shoulders hints at the family's wealth, and the blue fabric adds a touch of understated opulence. This portrayal isn’t just a rendering of an individual; it’s a statement about identity and social status in a society deeply structured by class. Miniature portraits like these were often worn as jewelry, serving as intimate keepsakes and symbols of familial connection. In viewing this piece, we witness not just a woman, but the embodiment of a certain social aspiration, caught in the complex intersections of gender, class, and representation.