John Langdon Sullivan 1797

This miniature portrait of John Langdon Sullivan by Edward Greene Malbone, created in 1797, is a prime example of early American portraiture. Malbone, a leading miniature painter of his time, captured Sullivan’s likeness with meticulous detail and delicate brushwork. The sitter, depicted in a formal pose against a dark background, is wearing a black coat with a white cravat. This miniature, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies Malbone’s mastery of the genre and provides a glimpse into the elegance of early American society.