Portrait of a Lady 1837 - 1842

This delicate portrait was painted by Thomas Seir Cummings using watercolors on ivory. The artist meticulously applied thin layers of pigment to build up the likeness of the sitter, and the translucent nature of ivory lends a soft, luminous quality to her skin. Cummings was not only an artist, but also a co-founder and first vice-president of the National Academy of Design. This portrait represents not just his mastery of a labor-intensive technique, but also the social world in which he operated. Miniature portraits like this were luxury objects, and reflect the wealth and status of both the artist and his subject. It speaks to a time when even relatively small objects could embody a great deal of social meaning. Looking closely at the detailed brushwork and the precious materials, we see how the artist elevated the status of both the sitter, and the medium itself. It reminds us that even seemingly conventional portraits can be understood as skillful displays of craft, deeply embedded in their time.