Untitled [vignette bust portrait of a woman] 1858 - 1869

This intimate vignette bust portrait of an unknown woman was created by Jeremiah Gurney, a prominent American photographer working in the mid-19th century. The image is presented in a traditional oval format within a gilded frame, highlighting the sitter’s delicate features and demure expression. Gurney's masterful use of light and shadow creates a sense of depth and realism, capturing the subject’s individuality in a timeless manner. This small-scale work exemplifies the popular 19th-century practice of portraiture as a means of preserving personal memory. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art.