Mrs. Teakes

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, *Mrs. Teakes* (1812, 1827) is a watercolor on ivory miniature portrait by Anne Teakes, measuring just 4 x 3 inches (10.2 x 7.5 cm). This intimate work captures the elegance of early 19th-century Britishure, a time when such miniatures were cherished personal treasures—often worn in lockets or brooches as tokens of affection for spouses, family, or sweethearts. The dual dates suggest it may have been begun in 1812, during the Regency era's refined social customs, and revisited or completed in 1827, bridging the shift toward Victorian pr...