T. Stanford
ca. 1795
Medium
Painting-Miniature
Classification
Painting-Miniature
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund
Accession Number
1957.3.2
Tags
About this artwork
The inscription âT. Stanfordâ found on a piece of paper in the back of this locket is the only clue to the sitterâs identity.
Art Historical Context
Nestled within a locket, this delicate miniature portrait by Ebenezer Mack, dated around 1795, captures enigmatic "T. Stanford" in a bust-length view. Mack, an American artist known for his finely wrought miniatures, exemplifies the intimate portraiture popular in the early Federal period. These tiny paintings, often no larger than a thumbnail, served as cherished personal keepsakes—worn close to the heart as jewelry or tucked into pockets for travelers and soldiers. The sole clue to the sitter's identity is a handwritten inscription "T. Stanford" on a slip of paper tucked behind the portrait...