Portrait of a Man 1795 - 1805

This anonymous portrait miniature from the late 18th or early 19th century depicts a man in a formal, black coat with a white cravat. The sitter's identity is unknown. Miniature portraits, like this one, were popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and were often commissioned as keepsakes for loved ones. Due to its small size, it is likely that this portrait was meant to be worn as a locket or pendant, and the sitter likely would have been someone important to the owner. The work's oval format was common in miniature portraiture and highlights the intimate nature of the subject. The Metropolitan Museum of Art currently holds the miniature portrait in their collection.