Theresa Diana Levesque
1810
Medium
Painting-Miniature
Classification
Painting-Miniature
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase
Accession Number
1975.59.2
Tags
About this artwork
Ambrose Duval painted this portrait a few years after he arrived in New Orleans. It is not clear how he knew the young lady Theresa Diana Levesque, but she appears to have been a woman of fashion, and would have been nearly the same age as the artist.
Art Historical Context
This charming miniature portrait of Theresa Diana Levesque was by Ambrose Duval in1810, just a few years after the artist settled in New Orleans. The sitter, a woman of evident fashion, was nearly the same age asval himself, though the nature of their connection remains unknown. The work’s intimate scale draws us close to her poised expression and stylish attire, offering a personal glimpse of early American life. Miniature portraits like this one were treasured in the early 19th century for their portability and fine detail. Often carried as mementos or set into jewelry, they allowed sitters...