Jonathan Pinkney, Jr. 1798

This portrait of Jonathan Pinckney Junior, made by James Peale, is painted with watercolor on ivory. Consider that smooth, creamy surface of the ivory and the effects it gives to Peale's rendering of skin tone. Think about the labor involved, not only in the artist’s careful application of paint, but in the acquisition and preparation of the support itself. Ivory would have been a costly material, signifying the sitter’s wealth and status. Peale, in turn, was making a statement about his own skill, demonstrating his ability to work with such a precious material. Miniature portraits like this were often kept as mementos, small tokens of affection or remembrance. Note the oval shape: this was a standard format, allowing the portrait to be set in a locket or a ring. In this way, even a painting could become a highly personal, wearable object. It's a reminder that all artworks are made of something, by someone, for someone, in a particular set of social and material circumstances.