Artwork preview

Marcia Burns

James Peale

National Gallery of Art

The image is an oval miniature portrait. It shows the upper half of a woman's body, including her face and upper torso. She is facing slightly to her left, with curly dark hair framing her face and falling down her shoulders. The woman has light skin, arched eyebrows, and a gentle expression. She is wearing a white dress with detailed ruffling along the neckline. There are no visible jewelry or objects in her hands. The background is a gradient of light to darker blue. The portrait is encased in an oval frame with a loop at the top for hanging. The artist's initials and the year "1793" are inscribed on the painting next to her shoulder.

Artwork Details

Date
1797
Medium
watercolor on ivory
Dimensions
4484 × 5798 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original