Portrait of a Gentleman 1790 - 1800

This miniature portrait of a gentleman, created by William Verstille between 1790 and 1800, is a fine example of 18th century portraiture. The subject, shown in a three-quarter view, is clad in the fashionable attire of the period, with his hair styled in a powdered wig. The portrait is in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The work, executed in watercolor on ivory, measures just over one inch in height. This small-scale work exemplifies the popular practice of miniature portraits, which were often commissioned for private use as keepsakes.