England, 19th century / c. 1800
Portrait of Catherine Clemens and Her Son, John Marcus Clemens
The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Portrait of Catherine Clemens and Her Son, John Marcus Clemens as portrait miniature (England, 19th century · c. 1800).
Portraits of mothers with their children were much more common in the 1700s and 1800s in Britain than were portraits of fathers with their children.
A CLOSER LOOK
The museum identifies this portrait miniature as watercolor on ivory in a gold and split pearl frame and credits Richard Cosway (British, 1742–1821).
The museum's collection notes: This sensitive portrait of Catherine Clemens and her son, John Marcus, was painted around 1800 and exemplifies the prettiness for which Cosway was so well known. The artist’s trademark turquoise blue sky is reflected in the boy’s brilliant blue eyes and the bow on the frock that slips informally off his shoulder. This miniature also showcases Cosway’s mature technique of delicate stipplework throughout the faces, contrasted with looser brushstrokes for the hair and garments. Both John Marcus and his mother are swathed in white ruffled fabric, against which the paleness of their skin seems even more pronounced. Like his contemporaries, Cosway
FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The Cleveland Museum of ArtPortrait of Catherine Clemens and Her Son, John Marcus ClemensOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.