Gulian Ludlow
ca. 1790
Medium
Watercolor on ivory
Dimensions
1 7/8 x 1 1/4 in. (4.9 x 3.2 cm)
Classification
Painting, miniature
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1926
Accession Number
26.125.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite portrait miniature *Gulian Ludlow* by John Ramage, around 1790. This tiny gem, measuring just 1 7/8 x 1 1/4 inches, captures the dignified likeness of its sitter in watercolor on ivory—a medium favored for its luminous, jewel-like quality. The translucent pigments layered on thin ivory slices allow light to enhance the delicate modeling of features, creating an intimate, lifelike presence that invites close viewing. John Ramage, a Scottish-born artist active in New York and Boston, was among America's premier miniaturists during the early Federal period. His precise, eleg...
About the Artist
John Ramage · 1748–1842
Ireland ca. 1748–1802 Montreal