Mrs. James Suydam (Charlotte Heyer)
1859
Medium
Painting-Miniature
Classification
Painting-Miniature
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase
Accession Number
1974.13.2
Tags
About this artwork
Charlotte Heyer was the wife of the artist and collector James Suydam.
Art Historical Context
This delicate miniature portrait captures Charlotte Heyer, the wife of artist and collector James Suyd, as painted by John Carlin in 1859. Rendered as a bust-length likeness, the work reflects the intimate nature of such personal commissions, preserving a moment in the life of a woman connected to New York’s vibrant 19th-century art circles. Carlin’s careful attention to her features and attire invites viewers to appreciate both the subject’s quiet dignity and the artist’s skill in conveying personality on a small scale. Miniature paintings like this one held special significance in the decad...
About the Artist
John Carlin · 1813–1891
American, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1813–1891 New York