Joel Roberts Poinsett 1801

This miniature portrait of Joel Roberts Poinsett, a prominent American politician and diplomat, was painted by Edward Greene Malbone in 1801. Malbone, a leading figure in the American miniature portrait tradition, captures Poinsett's likeness with delicate detail and subtle shading. The oval format and intimate scale of the painting are characteristic of the genre, which was popular for personal portraiture in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This miniature, housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, offers a glimpse into the life of a prominent figure of the early American Republic, showcasing Malbone’s masterful skills as a miniaturist.