← Raphaelle Peale

Peter Gilman Odlin

Original title: Peter Gilman Odlin

Artist

Raphaelle Peale

Date

ca. 1805

Medium

Watercolor on ivory

Dimensions

2 3/16 x 1 25/32 in. (5.6 x 4.7 cm)

Credit line

Purchase, Gifts of Robert E. Tod, Mrs. Louise Lamson and William Gedney Bunce and Bequest of Antoinette D. T. Throckmorton, by exchange; Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Milberg Gift; Gifts in memory of Elizabeth B. Besobrasow and gifts from various donors, 1986

kurzbeschreibung

Around 1805, Raphaelle Peale painted this small portrait of Peter Gilman Odlin, shown in formal attire. The miniature is executed in watercolor on ivory and measures only about 5.6 by 4.7 centimeters. It is a fine example of early 19th-century portrait miniature painting.

Description

An oval field frames a man with brown hair combed back; he wears a black coat over a white collar with a lapel. Soft tones fill the background, suggesting a landscape with sky. An oval frame with copper-colored fittings encloses the miniature, which hangs from a chain.

Context

Raphaelle Peale, an American painter, is best known for his still lifes but also produced miniature portraits. Around 1805, such small portraits were common in America as personal keepsakes and marks of social standing. Little is recorded about Peter Gilman Odlin; what we see is a man of the upper class in formal dress.

Impact

Step closer, and the small surface draws you into concentration; the sitter's calm gaze and the soft landscape behind him create a collected, dignified mood. The compact size enhances the sense of intimacy with the viewer, while the delicate execution contributes to its quiet effect.

Technique

The portrait is worked in watercolor on ivory, as was customary for miniatures in the 18th and 19th centuries. The ivory ground makes the colors glow, and fine brushstrokes bring out the details of the face.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)