Benjamin DuBois Smock

Artist George Henry Durrie

Periodca. 1841

MediumOil on wood

Dimensions5 × 3.75 × 0.25 in. (12.7 × 9.5 × 0.6 cm)

InscribedInscribed on back in pencil "U.S/ Durrie GH- Pinxt/ April 1841/ DuBois/ Smock's/ Picture."

ClassificationsPortrait Miniatures & Silhouettes

Credit LineGift of Mrs. William Kissam, 1993

Object number1993.3.1

DescriptionA miniature oil portrait of a young man sitting 3/4 view and facing left. His side-parted brown hair is combed into long curving sideburns, intersecting with a jaw-line beard. The man wears a black dress jacket, white shirt, and black stock.
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.NotesThis miniature of Benjamin Dubois Smock (1813-1840) was done by artist George Henry Durrie (1820-1863). It is painted from an earlier work after the death of the sitter at age twenty-seven. It shows Benjamin as a young man, perhaps in his late teens. He was the son of John H. Smock and Elizabeth Dubois of Marlboro.

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