William Udall 1797 - 1805

Archibald Robertson painted this miniature portrait of William Udall in watercolor on ivory, but we don’t know exactly when. Small portraits like these were fashionable in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and were circulated amongst family members or close friends, often worn as jewelry. This fashion tells us something about the increasing importance of the individual in Western societies at this time. Where once people were defined by their place in the social order, now qualities such as character and personality were becoming increasingly important. We can also see the cultural influence of institutions like the art academy in the restrained elegance of the composition and the smooth, polished brushwork. Robertson trained at the Royal Academy in London, and he brought these values with him when he emigrated to the United States, where he founded the Columbian Academy of Painting in New York. Understanding the social and institutional context of works like this helps us to appreciate them in a new light. Historians can draw on sources such as letters, diaries, newspapers, and financial records to gain a fuller picture of the artist, the sitter, and the world they inhabited.