Bessie Hartshorne Williams

Artist Unknown Artist

Periodca. 1885-1895

MediumWatercolor on porcelain, gilt and velvet frame

DimensionsOval: 3.88 × 3.13 in. (9.8 × 7.9 cm)

InscribedInscribed on back, "Bessie Harshorne Williams/Wife of William H. Vredenburgh."

ClassificationsPortrait Miniatures & Silhouettes

Credit LineGift of Gilbert Van Note, from the Estate of Elizabeth Vredenburgh Knight, 1977

Object number1977.3.52

DescriptionOvoid portrait of a young woman with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a white off-the-shoulder dress edged with white lace, earrings and a choker. The portrait is set on a green velvet back, and housed in a gilt frame.
Curatorial RemarksPortrait miniatures flourished in the early United States as one of the most sought after forms of art. They were designed as mementos of the sitter, small enough to be worn as jewelry or safely tucked away. Portrait miniatures were often commissioned to commemorate significant events or presented as gifts and tokens of affection. The origins of portrait miniatures can be traced back to illuminated manuscripts and portrait medals, both staples of the Italian Renaissance period. United States miniatures were often reminiscient of the early European Rococo style, characterized by small and delicate ornamentation, though several elements distinguished these works, such as a focus on realism and attention to individuality. Famed Rhode Island artist Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) helped popularize the technique by complimenting his full-size oil portraits with miniature versions. A significant advancement in the genre was the advent of watercolors on ivory. This intricate and difficult technique enhanced colors and skin tones, furthering the acclaim of portrait miniatures in the United States.NotesBessie Hartshorne Williams was the daughter of Amelia Lines Lippencott and Esek Harshorne Williams of Red Bank, New Jersey. In 1868, she married William H. Vredenburgh.

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