Madame Jerome Bonaparte (Elizabeth Patterson)
Original title: Madame Jerome Bonaparte (Elizabeth Patterson)
kurzbeschreibung
Thomas Sully painted Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte in watercolor on ivory around 1805–10. The miniature belongs to the tradition of early nineteenth-century American portrait miniatures.
Description
Three women with curly hair tied in braids face forward, their gazes directed in different directions. A pale blue tone fills the background, and a small coat of arms with an eagle appears at the top. The oval frame has a gold metal rim, pearls, and other ornaments.
Context
Elizabeth Patterson Bonaparte was the American wife of Jérôme Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother. At the time, miniature portraits were valued in the United States as personal keepsakes. Sully, a leading portraitist of his era, likely painted this portrait on commission from the sitter or her family.
Impact
Watercolor on ivory gives the portrait a delicate, precious quality. Three women within a single miniature format create an unusual yet elegant arrangement that holds the viewer's attention through its precision of detail.
Technique
The work was executed in watercolor on ivory, as was common for miniature portraits of the period. The oval frame with gold rim and pearl ornament underscores the object's precious character.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)