Portrait of a Lady 1787 - 1844

Nathaniel Rogers's "Portrait of a Lady" is a small (3 x 2 3/8 in.) miniature painting on ivory dating from the late 18th or early 19th century. The work, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, features a woman wearing a black dress with white lace trim and a lacy head covering, her gaze directed towards the viewer. The sitter's expression and attire are reminiscent of the Neoclassical style popular during this period, characterized by simple elegance and a focus on classical forms. The miniature format, a popular style for portraiture in the 18th and 19th centuries, allows for a close-up, intimate view of the subject, highlighting her delicate features.